Canon is kicking off WPPI with a pair of significant announcements, one for its ever-growing mirrorless segment and another that will appeal to photographers who want to get their feet wet with flash. The primary new item today is the EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera, which is the first mirrorless and APS-C option from Canon to offer UHD 4K video recording. Also announced is a significant release for flash photography, the first fully automatic on-camera flash. The Speedlite 470EX-AI not only offers E-TTL / E-TTL II support for automatic metering, but features a world's first Auto Intelligent Bounce Function that will position the flash head at the optimal tilt and rotation for the room you are working in to create beautiful flash photos.
With the help of a brand new DIGIC 8 image processor and 24.1MP APS-C CMOS, the M50 Mirrorless Camera becomes the first of Canon's mirrorless line to feature UHD 4K video recording at 23.98 fps. This standout feature allows photographers and videographers to make the most of the latest display technology, ensuring maximum detail in the recorded movies and, thanks to enhanced Dual Pixel CMOS AF with 88 x 100% coverage, users will be sure they will have sharp footage. Improved speed also results in faster frame-rate options for lower resolutions, including Full HD at up to 60p and a High Frame Rate mode for 120 fps capture at HD 720p resolution. The camera is NTSC/PAL switchable and has a standard 3.5mm mic input.
The M50 is a very capable option for stills, with improved low-light performance within its sensitivity range of ISO 100-25600, as well as a Hi setting of ISO 51200. A silent mode is now available for working in sound-sensitive environments and the camera features Dual Sensing IS and Combination IS for steady shots in a variety of shooting modes. Speed translates to photography, as well, with a continuous shooting rate of up to 10 fps, or up to 7.4 fps with Servo AF.
For operation, the body has been outfitted with a variety of features to make this easier and more intuitive. The primary aid is a built-in 0.39" 2.36m-dot EVF for comfortable handling and eye-level shooting. Also, this model offers a 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, which features a Touch + Drag function, as well as simple menu navigation. Users can connect to an app on their smartphone using Wi-Fi, NFC, or Bluetooth for immediate sharing of their images, and there are micro-HDMI and micro-USB ports for connecting to a monitor/TV or computer.
The M50 will be available in black as a body only or as a kit with a 15-45mm lens in either white or black, in a Video Creator Kit, and in a kit with both the 15-45mm and 55-200mm lenses.
In a move that makes flash even more accessible to beginners, the Speedlite 470EX-AI takes its automatic capabilities up a notch with a world's-first Auto Intelligent Bounce function. AI Bounce allows the flash to take a measurement of the ceiling's height and then automatically adjust the tilt and rotation of the flash for optimal lighting performance. This makes it even easier for users just starting to experiment with flash to get acceptable results. The flash will even account for the position of the camera, keeping up with individuals who constantly switch from landscape to portrait orientation. Also, a semi-auto mode is available where shooters can lock in their angle and the flash will move to maintain that position as the camera is moved around.
As a flash, the Speedlite 470EX-AI is very capable, featuring a guide number of 154' at 105mm and ISO 100. It also has a zoom head with coverage for lenses from 24-105mm, as well as a pull-out wide-angle diffuser for lenses as wide as 14mm. Tilt and rotation can be adjusted manually, with completely stepless movement. For users looking to go off-camera, the E-TTL / E-TTL II-compatible unit supports an optical slave mode. Additionally, it has an infrared AF assist light, comes with a case and bounce diffuser, and runs on four AA batteries.
