Day one was the press/ VIP preview of the once every five years Canon Expo. Basically everything Canon makes and what lies ahead. All photos apart from the fish eye were taken on the iphone 4 so I could blog as I went along…

Lots of cools things to see but nothing really new DSLR wise unfortunately, no 1DSmkiV yet…the 60D was on display and looks good. I like the flip out screen, what they all need really and the build quality was sturdy. It felt well made. Do I need one? Not really, but it’s a really nice camera and certainly a better bet than the T2i, but not the 7D…

One of the most interesting things was the Canon 4k concept camera and 4k monitor! It’s only 2/3rd inch but it’s still interesting and a sign of where they are going? I must emphasise this camera will never come out. It’s a concept camera showing the technology. Are they planning to take on RED? No idea but it will be interesting to see where this path will take us…it’s no Epic that is for sure…which is real and being tested out in the field…how long though before Canon bring something like this out for real? Ideally for me in an APS-C minimum sized chip but I talk more about this further down the post. The 4K monitor was great as you can imagine, 32″ and sharp as hell. It’s one of those things of course that you need to see in person…

I REALLY like the XF 105. It’s tiny and has amazing specs. 422 50mbs hd sdi and genlock. The XF 100 is the same but without the SDI/ Genlock. Both record onto CF cards. I guess it is a direct competitor to the JVC 100. Size wise it looks identical, almost…but spec wise it is simply really impressive. It’s the first camcorder in recent memory that I have actually wanted. It has all the facial tracking auto focus that the Vixia has but in a much much better cameras.

This is the Canon 4K concept camera.It was actually working and was crisp as hell…This concept camera had  a fixed 2/3″ 20x Zoom lens as the chip itself is 2/3″. I am not sure what the idea of it is, they mentioned something about medical something or other. It’s obviously not a cinema concept camera due to the fixed lens. The image out of it was actually really really nice. As I have said and I and am sure you all want to,  is to see an APS-C chip in camera like this and use all the current Canon glass or PL lenses…but Canon have a different marketing strategy to someone like RED. RED announce their road map and make it very public. Canon keep things close to their chest. If there is a cinema camera coming out or a new improved DSLR for video there is no way they would show a concept camera of it and show the competition what they have up their sleeve. Canon do not give much away and of course that is probably from a business stand point the best thing to do. That is why this camera really is to show what they are capable of more than anything, not what they plan to do…I would put money down that we won’t know until pretty close to release of any big developments with regards to video in DSLR or the next evolution of that.

There was also no word of any firmware or other lenses, they were all announced last week. I expect the much rumoured and much expected 1DSmkiV will make it’s debut at Photokina in Cologne later this month. I will be watching this very closely as it MAY have improved video functions, again, pure speculation but I can be positive and hope can’t i?

The huge sensor is also very cool. Check out the image below which shows two monitors. Image on right represents what human eye can see. Image on left is image from the huge sensor.

Also on display is the stabilised broadcast lenses. Something which we currently don’t have. A nice feature that we are very used to on cheap cameras and on IS lenses. Finally some 2/3″ broadcast lenses get this much needed feature. Their display was cool as it showed with and without with the cameras mounted on a car bouncing up and down.

They also had a lens for an 8K camera…a BEAST…

Don’t get excited by this DSLR body. Out of context it’s like WOW…what is this…it is simply the prototype for the 7D on display…

The multi band camera is impressive, it literally can see more than the human eye can…am not talking latitude, but detail and colours that we simply cannot make out…impressive but needs to be seen in person, much like most things here.

One of my favourite things there was the new 8-14mm F2.8L . Circular fish eye at the wide end, it’s enormous fun. Its not out yet and no idea of pricing but both myself and Vincent LaForet below fell in love with it. It’s a special effect lens and certainly should not be on anyone’s list of priority lenses to buy. It’s so bloody wide I seriously had to suck it in so as not to get my belly in shot on the 8mm. WTF!? You can just about make it out and my feet in the circular shot…!

I am here with Lucasfilm’s Rick McCallum who it seems is rather light fingered as you can see below! A bit of fun!! Pics of Rick by Sam Nicholson.

The Canon 60D was on display too…as mentioned, it felt way better than i expected. Image wise I have no clue as not shot with it!

If you are in town I will be there tomorrow too…hope to see you! Hopefully this blog gave you a taste of what there is there. It’s so massive I barely scratched the surface but I have focused on the stuff that interested me the most and I hope you…