Select PowerShot S100 cameras are encountering a lens error, Canon confirmed on its Product Advisories page. An undisclosed number of the high-end point-and-shoots have had issues with a “disconnected part inside the camera,” which causes the optic to malfunction. Canon suggests that the issue may be connected with exposure to heat or humidity, but regardless of the cause, the company is offering free repairs, even for out-of-warranty cameras — assuming the issue is caused by this specific part. Qualifying S100s should have a serial number that begins with any number ranging from 29 through 41 (29xxxxxxxxxx, for example), and this specific offer only covers residents of the US and Puerto Rico, though owners in other countries should be able to reach out to their local support centres for assistance. You’ll find the full advisory at the source link below.

SOURCE via Canon

It’s hard to believe, but the last the last time we covered a major firmware update for Canon’s 7D DLSR the iPhone 4 was still fresh in our minds. Now, nearly two years later, Canon is offering up a bevy of new features for the camera with its soon to be released — and free — 2.0.X update.

To start, folks who shoot RAW will be pleased to know that they can shoot up to 25 continuous frames (17 in RAW + JPEG) in burst mode — that’s up from just 15 previously. You’ll also be able to edit images captured in the format straight from the camera, as well as set a maximum limit of 6400 (up from 3200) for its Auto ISO mode. If that wasn’t enough, Geotaggers should know that Canon is also going to make its GP-E2 GPS module (originally introduced with the 5D Mark III) 7D-compatible.

Lastly, videographers are getting a nice bump in the audio and multi-camera shooting departments; you’ll be able to manually control the mic-input with a choice of 64 volume levels (like the Mark II) and an updated sub-menu interface will allow the first four characters of your videos’ file names to be changed. The update won’t be available until early August, but you’ll find full details and a video demo at the source link below.

SOURCE via Canon

If there’s been one outstanding gripe with Fujifilm’s X-Pro1 camera, it’s been the absence of zoom lenses; short of French kissing the subject, you might not get the photos you want. While there isn’t much of a solution right this second outside of buying the fixed-lens X10, the Japanese camera designer can say when we’ll see an interchangeable XF-mount zoom lens: fall 2012. That’s when a bright 18-55mm, f/2.8-4.0 optically stabilized lens will make its appearance, along with a 14mm f/2.8 prime. Fujifilm will revert to unveiling nothing but pancakes and primes during early 2013, but the middle of that year will finish covering the zoomable basics through a wide-angle 10-24mm f/4.0 OIS lens and a 55-200mm, f/3.5-4.8 OIS telephoto. We wouldn’t expect pricing with the new glass still months away — but at least you can start planning that Sumatra vacation knowing you won’t have to chase down the wildlife to get a good keepsake shot.

Canon has released an updated firmware for the 5D Mark III that adds support for the forthcoming 40mm f/2.8 lens and fixes a variety of small power and auto-exposure issues. What was absent was the long-promised support for continuously autofocusing video, which the company confirmed to The Verge has now been ditched from the camera’s spec sheet. It looks like if you were hoping to helm your own tense medical drama with one of these, you’d better start looking for the receipt.

SOURCE via The Verge

The latest telephoto zoom lens from Nikon packs in the highest zoom ratio we’ve seen on an APS-C or DX lens. The Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-5/6 G ED VR cranks up the zoom to 16.7X, but pairs this with the aperture range of its existing telephoto lenses, ready for some bokeh-heavy close-ups. You’ll be paying for that superzoom privilege, however, as the lens is set to arrive later this month, commanding a $1,000 premium. It’s joined by a new standard-zoom lens, the FX-compatible Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 ED VR, which also arrives later this month, priced at $600.

SOURCE via Nikon

So you eBayed your Canon EOS 5D back in April, all in good faith, ready for the EOS-1D X that never came. Well, that gap in your photoblog should end next week — according to updated info from the camera maker. The latest details suggest that the flagship shooter should be hitting stores on June 20th, along with a clutch of accessories. You’d better initiate that PayPal withdrawal now, though, as CNET reports that a US representative for the firm told them that, while stocks will be available, they’d initially be in limited supply. Full stocks, however, should be here in time for to shoot your own HD Olympics.

SOURCE via CNET

The first images of what’s purported to be the new Nikon D600 have appeared online. The budget (for photographers, at least) full-frame camera is expected to come with a 24.7-megapixel sensor, a 3.2-inch LCD display and a built-in autofocus motor. What makes us hopeful of its rapid arrival is today’s earlier announcement concerning the FX-compatible Nikkor 24-85mm lens — the pair combined would make a devastating duo if the company hits the mark on pricing. Those in the market for a gentle introduction to DSLRs can take a peek at another picture after the break.

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There wasn’t much reason to upgrade with last year’s T3i, but that’s certainly not the case with the Canon EOS Rebel T4i. This new entry-level DSLR packs a redesigned 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with brand-new focus capabilities, enabling the camera to use both phase- and contrast-detection autofocus when paired with one of two new STM lenses. The center portion of the sensor uses traditional phase-detection technology, while points nearer to the perimeter aid by recognizing contrast in a scene, enabling a more accurate autofocus technique for both stills and video shooting.

On the video front, the new lenses — an EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM for $550 or the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM “pancake” for $200 — allow for much more silent zoom and focusing during video capture, so you don’t need to worry about those sensitive stereo mics picking up mechanical noise. The camera still did a bit of focus hunting while recording video during our hands-on, but autofocus performance was quite impressive while capturing stills, even in low light.

On the spec front, there’s an articulating 3-inch Clear View smudge-resistant glass LCD, with a 1.04-megapixel resolution and new capacitive multitouch functionality, letting you pinch and zoom pictures and tap your way through menus just the same — you’ll still have the full array of physical controls if you’d prefer to go that route. There’s the same bounty of video modes available with the T3i and T2i, including 1080 at 30p, 25p and 24p, 1080/60i and 50i, and VGA at 30 and 25 frames-per-second — there’s also a stereo mic on board, along with a dedicated microphone input jack on the side. In burst mode, the T4i can snap up to 5 consecutive frames per second.

The camera also includes the same LP-E8 battery pack as previous Rebels, with a 1120mAh capacity. The Rebel T4i will be available in a body-only configuration for $850, $950 with the 18-55mm kit lens or $1200 with the new 18-135mm STM optic, all of which are set to ship later this month. If you feel that the new features don’t justify the price, you’ll rest easy knowing that Canon has no plans to pull the T3i from store shelves — that T2i, however, is destined for retirement.

It wasn’t long ago that we heard about the “lock-up” woes D4 and D800 owners were experiencing on their shiny new shooters, but luckily for them, Nikon just outed a fix to take care of those issues. Aside from solving the aforementioned annoyance, the firmware update (B:1.01) also mends a problem allowing RAW files to be network-transferred while in JPEG-only mode, as well as a bug causing bits like aperture and exposure compensation to change unexpectedly when using certain custom settings. You can grab the updates now via the source links below, and be sure to let us know how it all turned out in the end.

SOURCE via Nikon

It’s not the cheapest, and it’s not the first, but if you’ve been holding out on picking up an M-Mount adapter for your X-Pro1 with the hope that Fujifilm will launch a Leica-friendly accessory of its own, your patience does appear to have paid off. The camera maker just announced its very own M-Mount Adapter, featuring a 27.8mm distance between the lens mount and the sensor, an aluminum and stainless steel construction, and three levels of distortion correction. After you upgrade your camera firmware to version 1.10 (or later), you’ll have access to an advanced M-Mount Adapter Settings menu, which utilizes pre-registered lens profiles and corrections. The software includes presets for 21mm, 24mm, 28mm and 35mm Leica lenses, leaving two additional slots for adding your own settings. You’ll need to hang in there for a few more weeks — the M-Mount Adapter is expected to ship for $200 in June.