CineForm customers who plan to use Adobe CS5 products should get improved support with their Prospect HD/4K software. While the CS4 support has a been behind the expected support CineForm does plan to to ship Version 5 CineForm products for CS5 at the time Adobe ships CS5. CineForm may also include new features  in their CS5 version. According to CineForm all Prospect HD/4K customers will receive a no-charge CineForm upgrade to the full version of our Version 5 product for compatibility with CS5 and anybody that purchases Prospect HD/4K v4 from now on will also get this free upgrade. Details of the v5 features are not available yet. Cineform seemed to have already begun working on the integraton of their products in CS5 aftert he CS5 SDK has been released.

Behind the Scenes – lifting the lid on the development of the new Canon EOS 7D ( written by Canon)

Canon Inc., of Japan, has been developing SLR cameras for over 50 years and is widely recognised as being a world leader, in terms of image and build quality. It’s not often that an imaging company with this heritage will make the conscious decision to tear up the rule book and go back to the drawing board to create a ground breaking digital SLR camera. So what inspired Canon to set this new challenge, to start with a blank page and create an entirely new photographic experience?

The answer is a desire to give photographers the enhanced experience they want from a camera. With this bold objective Canon set out to gain insight from photographers across the world – embarking on an extensive research project that saw them consult with over 5,000 photographers globally – to discover what the dream camera would be, what preconceived ideas could be challenged, what opportunities existed, what photographers – of all abilities – wanted to experience.

The insight armed Canon with the knowledge to create a camera that would go beyond any previous digital SLR, matching speed and accuracy of image capture with a build that delivered an intuitive, immersive photographic experience. The result is the spectacular Canon EOS 7D. Mr. Shinbori, Deputy Group Executive of Photo Products Group & Senior General Manager of Camera Development Center, Canon Inc., was part of the development team responsible for this impressive new camera. He has contributed to this behind the scenes story of how the EOS 7D was created and how the research influenced the development of specific camera features.

The Research

Canon consulted over 1,500 people in Europe and over 5,000 people worldwide, which included a series of focus groups in Japan. Mr Shinbori explains, “We contacted photographers of all abilities and experience – it was important to understand what different people look for in a camera.” One of the EOS 7D’s strengths is its versatility. It is not a ‘one-size fits all camera’; the research showed that it was important to develop a digital SLR camera that would give photographers the tools they need in order to experiment with photography.

Interactive Experience

An interesting insight gleaned from the research revealed the importance of the sound and feel of the camera as well as the inclusion of impressive technological features. Canon took this feedback on board and created a camera that gave photographers a tactile experience so photographers feel like they are truly capturing an image.

The Viewfinder

Even in the age of LCD screens, the viewfinder remains the most important interface on a camera for many photographers. Mr Shinbori describes the situation Canon faced: “Most people accepted the notion that viewfinders on many cameras were unable to produce a true representation of the image being captured. We set out to change this notion – which was not an easy task!” The result is a first for EOS – a viewfinder with 100 percent coverage and 1.0x magnification.

The Experience

Canon set-out to create a camera that felt really comfortable in the hand. Buttons, dials and switches were made larger so the photographer finds it easier to manipulate functions. “The research showed this was particularly important for photographers working in cold conditions, as they often would not know if the shutter button had been pressed when wearing cumbersome gloves.” The shutter is engineered to produce a satisfying feeling and sound when the shutter button is pressed, adding to the sensory experience of the EOS 7D.

Protection from Environment and Weather

Research showed that for photographers who like to capture images in the most challenging of conditions – the quality of construction is paramount. Canon used this feedback to create a camera with excellent protection from the environment. “We added sealing material to ensure maximum water resistance, and the seams of the magnesium body were strengthened”. This created levels of weather protection equivalent to the legendary EOS-1N.

Intelligent Technologies

It was important for Canon to develop new technologies that give photographers the very best image quality with the fastest, most accurate performance straight out of the box. The EOS 7D incorporates several new technologies as outlined below.

AF System

Canon completely redesigned the AF system for EOS 7D. In today’s market, AF accuracy is extremely important. Digital files can now be enlarged on a computer screen to levels that would have been unthinkable in the days of film. With this in mind, improvements have been made to the system’s precision and accuracy and Canon introduced innovative new features such as orientation sensitive AF. This enables the camera to recognise the angle the camera is being held and automatically select the preset AF point.

Image Sensor

The research showed that photographers are increasingly concerned with improved image quality under all lighting conditions. Canon’s solution is a new 18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor that delivers excellent results in both the low and high-speed ISO ranges. Mr Shinbori adds, “The sensor was developed and manufactured in-house where we had a unique opportunity to directly feed the research insights into the technical developments.” Canon developed the circuitry and the photodiodes so they are more sensitive and significantly improve the ‘Signal to Noise’ ratio.

Dual “DIGIC 4” Processors

It was clear from the research findings that photographers are often forced to compromise between speed and image quality. Canon sought to rectify this issue with the inclusion of Dual “DIGIC 4” processors. The power of DIGIC 4 is clearly demonstrated in its superior noise processing capabilities. Dual processors ensure photographers experience 8 fps with 8 channel readout – they get a fast processing speed from their camera, irrespective of ISO setting.

EOS Movie

Canon combined feedback from the research with lessons learnt from the development of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II to develop the EOS Movie function. This resulted with the inclusion of full manual exposure control and the ability to select frames rates to suit different TV standards or creative needs. The EOS 7D makes it easier for photographers to switch instantly to movie capture, from any other shooting mode, thanks to a dedicated switch.

Canon incorporated feedback from photographers around the globe – combining innovative technologies with intuitive design – to create a camera to meet all their needs. Canon hopes photographers will enjoy using the features which they helped to develop, to realise their passion for the power of image.

The EOS 7D boasts significant EOS advancements including a completely new 19-point Autofocus system, a new Canon iFCL Metering System (Intelligent Focus, Color, Luminance) and a new Intelligent Viewfinder. An 18-megapixel Canon CMOS sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Imaging Processors fuel the EOS 7D’s 14-bit A/D data conversion and its ability to freeze fast motion in high-resolution with eight fps continuous shooting up to 126 Large JPEGS using a UDMA CF card, positioning this camera for the studio as well as the sideline. The EOS 7D captures beautiful low-light images with or without a flash, at occasions such as a dance recital or wedding reception, thanks to a wide range of ISO speed settings from 100-6400 (expandable to 12,800). In addition to its new still capture capabilities, the EOS 7D features Full HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution with selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p. Native 24p recording helps videographers achieve a more cinema-style look for their footage without the need for post-processing.

“The EOS 7D represents a completely new chapter in digital photography and Canon product development. This camera stands alone as the most functional and innovative DSLR Canon has released to-date, bringing together all of the best professional features offered, along with numerous user requests at a price-point everyone can appreciate,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

The Evolution of Vision, the EOS 7D‘s New Autofocus System
The Canon EOS 7D boasts the most advanced AF system ever seen in an EOS SLR. The completely re-designed system includes a new multi-axis cross-type 19-point AF grid, where the focusing points are evenly spread out across the image plane and clearly displayed through Canon’s new Intelligent Viewfinder. All 19 points are f/5.6-sensitive for both horizontal and vertical cross-type focusing, while the center AF point adds high-precision diagonal cross-type sensitivity for f/2.8 and larger aperture lenses. The Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR camera is the first EOS SLR to feature 19 cross-type focusing points that remain fully functional with maximum apertures as small as f/5.6, which brings the performance of the AF system to unprecedented levels for assignments as varied as fast-moving sports action or low-light wedding ceremonies.

The Canon EOS 7D‘s AF system allows numerous AF area selection modes never seen before in an EOS SLR camera. New modes include:

Zone AF divides the 19 AF points into five selectable focusing zones and makes it easier to achieve focus with subjects that are difficult to track with Single Point AF or AF point expansion, such as birds in flight.

EOS HD Movie: Canon has blazed new trails in HD video capture with the 5D Mark II. Now, the EOS 7D takes DSLR video to new heights with Full HD capture featuring fully manual exposure control, and selectable cinematic frame rates for both NTSC (National Television System Committee) and PAL (Phase Altering Line) standards. Compatible with more than 60 Canon EF and EF-S lenses, the EOS 7D lets videographers take full advantage of the camera’s large CMOS sensor to achieve the dramatic frame composition they desire. At the heart of the EOS 7D are two key proprietary Canon technologies, Dual DIGIC 4 Imaging Processors and a large APS-C-sized CMOS sensor, helping to render stunning color reproduction, amazing depth of field and fine detail, even in low-light conditions. The Canon EOS 7D allows for three video recording modes – Full HD and HD in a 16:9 aspect ratio and Standard Definition (SD) in a 4:3 aspect ratio, all at selectable frame rates. The EOS 7D Digital SLR camera will record Full HD at 1920 x 1080 pixels in selectable frame rates of 24p (23.976), 25p, or 30p (29.97); 720p HD recording at 50p or 60p (59.94) and SD video at frame rates of 50p or 60p (59.94). The EOS 7D features a new dedicated button to initiate live view for both video and still shooting. Once engaged, the same dedicated button will start and stop video recording. Like the EOS 5D Mark II, the Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR camera provides users with the capability to use an external stereo microphone for professional audio effects or a built-in monaural microphone for convenience.

UPDATE:

New Canon EOS 7D is now available

Read more about the launched EOS 7D on StrongMocha.com here

There is no way to know if this picture is real or made up (faked) by someone with some Photoshop skills.

Keith Cooper from northlight images kindly informed me that the earlier posted image is a fake one that was as well published on flickr 10 month ago.

Personally I’m waiting for 8 Month for the 5D replacement body.