Get $300 off a Canon 5D and $200 off a Canon 40D! Instant rebates galore on lenses from May 18, 2008 to July 19, 2008.

Just in time for the holidays, Canon is offering rebates for selected products purchased between October 15, 2006 to January 13, 2007. Here is an explanation of how their rebates work. And here is a link to the rebate form.

Please buy through Amazon to support EOSrebels.com! Thank you!

I truly have to apologize to all my EOSrebels visitors. It’s been a very hectic year as I started the year by quitting my job and starting a company called Fanpop. We launched on August 1 and it’s been even crazier ever since. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to update the site as often as I’d like to. But I thought I should tell you a bit more about what I’ve been working on:

Fanpop is basically a place for fans of anything and everything to gather together in communities to share about their common interests. You can share links you find to great content from your favorite articles, to websites (like EOSrebels.com!), to video clips all about any topic of interest. You can also participate in forums and meet other fellow fans. And you can read news stories from various sources about that topic as well. It’s a new way for fanatics of anything from TV shows to bands to sports teams to hobbies like photography to get together and share their passions with like-minded people.

For example, on the Canon Digital SLR Spot fans can find all different links to great website like EOSrebels.com or EOS-pro. Or links to forums like Photography-on-the Net. Or they can even find a video clip like this one about the new EOS Integrated Cleaning System:

You can sort and filter all of these links by keywords. Users can also rate all of the content which helps to filter by quality. It’s a great way to find the best content on the web about any topic you care about. The best part is that it’s community-driven, so the fanatics decide what goes in there and whether it deserves to be there.

We think it’s a fun new way to find content you care about and I hope you’ll stop by and check it out!

There’s also a Photography Spot for general photography enthusiasts.

Canon has issued more great rebates on it’s cameras and lenses for items purchased between April 1, 2006 to July 15, 2006. On cameras you can get $300 off the EOS 5D or $100 off the Rebel XT. Or you can get rebates on lenses and flashes like:

• $25 off the EF 50mm f/1.4
• $50 off the EF 24-105mm f/4 IS
• $50 off the EF 24-70mm f/2.8
• $50 off the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS
• $40 off the EF 70-200mm f/4
• $20 off the Speedlite 580EX Flash

Download the rebate form and make sure to postmark it no later than August

For those of you who have been holding out on buying your EOS 20D, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Big brother 30D s now shipping! You can order one with the kit lens for only $1,399 (retail $1,499) and without the kit lens (body only) for $1,379. For $20 it’s a no-brainer to get the kit-lens unless you have absolutely no use for it. But you might be able to sell it on eBay for more than $20 if you want to give it a try! Now might also be a good time to check out the prices on the 20D at eBay because stores are getting rid of their inventory and it’s still a fantastic camera (almost the same as a 30D without the big screen and spot metering). I am seeing them close right now at about $800 for brand new 20D bodies.

Apologies for the delay in posting to the blog, I’ve been a bit swamped lately working on my startup company that hopefully you will all appreciate as fanatical photographers! In case you haven’t heard, Canon announced two new lenses that will be introduced in May.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
This lens sounds pretty amazing. It’s the fastest EF-S lens ever at a constant aperture of f/2.8. It has a very nice focal range with the wide-end at 17mm. It also has the latest 3-stop Image Stabilizer from Canon. This lens will be great for low-light shooting. Again, it is an EF-S lens which will only work on the Rebels, 20D and 30D and not on the 5D or 1D series. It’s the fastest but also most pricey EF-S lens ever at $1150 retail and will be available in May.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II
For those with a little more cash to spend, the newest addition to the L-series from Canon is this aperture-lovers dream the 85 1.2. This is the fastest Canon makes their lenses. It’s a hefty lens at over 2 pounds (1kg). It also comes in at the hefty retail price of $2100.

Until March 2, 2006, Amazon is offering 5% off selected lenses, flashes and other accessories when you use the code “ELECDEAL”. Amazon is a trusted vendor because it is reliable and has an excellent return policy (does not charge restocking fees like other sites). Please support EOSrebels.com by shopping at Amazon.com. Here is a sample of what you can get with this deal:

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8mm USM

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM

Canon Speedlite 580EX Flash

After all the waiting and holding our breath, Canon finally announced the new DSLR replacement for the top-selling EOS 20D this week prior to the big PMA convention down in Orlando. For the past several months, Canon enthusiasts have been speculating about all kinds of upgrades on the new model which was thought to be named anything from the 3D to the 35D. Hopes of a full-frame sensor were not met unfortunately. The new 30D has a few nice upgrades, but most appear to be minor with the exception of a larger 2.5″ LCD and spot metering. It’s safe to say that the news was disappointing for many. Canon clearly wants to keep the tiers of prosumer and pro cameras separated so that the XT/20D/30D does not cannibalize the sales of the 5D/1D cameras. The nice thing about it however, is that it retails at $1,399 which is cheaper than the 20D. The 30D will be available starting May 15th. But I guarantee you can get a great deal on a 20D right now as retailers try to move inventory for the 30D. From what I see here, it might just be worth it!

• Redesigned body (more EOS 5D like)
• Larger LCD monitor (2.5″)
• Soft-touch shutter release button
• AE/AF lock remains set if shutter is kept half-pressed between shots
• Faster startup and wake from sleep times
• Direct print button on rear of camera
• Spot metering
• 100,000 shot shutter cycle
• ISO selectable in third stop steps
• ISO speed shown in viewfinder as you change it (still not once changed though)
• Selectable 5 or 3 fps continuous shooting
• PictureStyles instead of simple image parameters
• 9,999 images per folder (instead of 100 as per the EOS 20D)
• 15 menu languages (3 new)

I often get asked whether I think it’s worth it or not to spend the extra $200 or so dollars to buy the 50 1.4 over the 50 1.8. I thought bang for the buck wise that you just can’t beat the 50 1.8 and I still agree with that. It’s the mightiest little lens you will ever find for that price. But after seeing the shots of my new Flickr friend Daniel, I was convinced that there is a big difference. I love shooting people shots and his were amazing. They were so sharp and the colors so vivid. I thought he must have done some post-processing. But alas he was just shooting with the 50 1.4 and the 5D (okay, I know, it’s the 5D!). For the longest time I have been debating what my next lens acquisition would be and I almost pulled the trigger on the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. After realizing how much I enjoy the depth of field on my 1.8, I decided that I would have a field day with the 1.4 (with full manual!). He had me convinced and within minutes I had ordered a copy of the lens myself. Here’s the helpful email he sent:

Hi Dave!

Daniel

Thanks Daniel! Maybe your pics and email will convince more to buy the 50 1.4!!

For those of you who have a Mac and haven’t tried it out yet, Adobe is offering a free beta version of their new pro photographer software called Project: Lightroom. I don’t think it’s nearly as powerful (or expensive) as the new Apple Aperture, but it still looks pretty nice. Did I mention you could download it for free? They’re looking for feedback from users and I don’t know how long it will be available for free. I downloaded it onto my iBook and it seems pretty stable. Check it out!