Press Release here:

http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20090325_t1i.html

Specs:

* 15.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
* Full HD movie recording with HDMI connection for viewing and playback on an HDTV
* ISO 100-3200 (expandable to 12800)
* 3.4 frames per second continuous shooting
* Max. 170 large JPEG images in a single burst
* 3.0” ClearView LCD with Live View mode
* 9-point wide area AF with cross type centre point
* High speed DIGIC 4 performance and superb image quality
* EOS Integrated Cleaning System
* Full compatibility with Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites, including new Speedlite 270EX, TS-E 17mm f/4L and TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II

Some previews – Gizmodo | Dpreview | Imaging Resource | Rob Galbraith

Looks like all the Canon DSLRs are now heading towards including inbuilt HD video, next will be Canon 3d  (60d whatever it will be called) replacing 50d

They actually put a 50d sensor into the 500d, and looking at the above previews, there is much different in image quality. No point of buying a 50d now, sales were already poor already due to the small improvement over 40d. I therefore predict that the 50d to be phased out quickly with the replacement being a substantial  advancement. I predict a 3d as above.

Interesting times ahead for videography industry. I am really looking forward to all the accessories that will become available now, at the moment accessories are too expensive due to the small market of video DSLRs. The release of this camera will ensure more mass products for the Canon 500d, Canon 5d Mark II and Nikon D90.

The main products that are in strong demand at the moment will be products for stabilisation of the camera and zooming.

An example of some products that are causing some noise in the video DSLR world are the  Merlin Steadicam for stabilisation and the guys at Zacuto USA making some awesome baseplate kits.

Read more for a picture of this base plate and an example of a video created with 5D2 and Steadicam Merlin.

Steadicam Merlin + Canon 5d Mark II + EF 16-35mm F/2.8 II from Hark Lee on Vimeo.

Here is a picture of one of the Zacuto baseplates for Canon 5d Mark II and Nikon D90.

For some great information on how to get started with using a video DSLR, check out my favourite video SLR web page at the moment.

Tags: canon 500d, video DSLR

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at 11:47 pm by Akwoo and is filed under Camera Gear. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.