On 14 April 2020, Canon launched its new image.canon service. This new concept allows images to be transferred directly from a Canon camera to a cloud-based platform for storage without the need to be first saved onto the computer or smartphone. Just how will it change our photography experience? Read on to find out.

 

A platform that makes the concept of a “connected camera” a reality

Gateway to a new era in imaging culture

The evolution of imaging culture is closely tied to the evolution of storage media. From the silver-coated copper or glass plates in early daguerreotype photography, to the film rolls that gave rise to movies and film cameras, and then the semiconductor materials that brought about digital imaging, the way we store images is closely linked to the evolution of photography culture.

We are now in an era where a huge amount of data from our smartphones and computers can be stored online. In fact, you can say that cloud storage is the new “memory media”. This is what the new concept of the “connected camera” is based on, and this new concept has Canon's new cloud-based platform, image.canon at its heart. 

Auto-transfer original-quality images and videos to image.canon—no need for cables or a computer

All upcoming cameras equipped with the auto-transfer feature, including the EOS R5 currently in development, will be capable of automatically uploading image and video files in their original quality directly to image.canon for storage via a Wi-Fi connection. This removes the need to use a cable, memory cards or computer as a file transfer intermediary, and also streamlining your post-shooting workflow.

Step into the world of the connected camera via image.canon, and you will be up for a whole new experience.

The key features of image.canon

(1) Upload images and videos to the cloud via a registered hotspot such as your home Wi-Fi network.
(2) All images and videos uploaded will be saved in original quality for 30 days.
(3) Up to 10 GB long-term storage of uncompressed data (complimentary).
(4) Automatically download image and video files stored on the cloud onto your computer.
(5) Auto-transfer to other data storage services.
(6) Auto-transfer to social media and the image.canon online album service for storage and sharing.

 

Change #1: A new data backup flow

Your original image and video files, backed up seamlessly to the cloud

Imagine being able to access all the images and videos you shot with your Canon camera, including RAW and uncompressed files, any time, anywhere.

That's essentially what image.canon allows you to do. From the EOS R5 onwards, all future Canon cameras that support auto-transfer will be able to automatically upload image and video files to image.canon upon connection to a Wi-Fi network that is registered on the camera.*

That means that even if you work with multiple devices, all you need to do is upload the original files just once. You will then be able to access them from a web browser or the dedicated image.canon smartphone app, and automatically forward them to your computer and third-party services for backup.

It makes your workflow easier, leaving more time to spend on more meaningful aspects of visual communication, such as conceptualising shoots, editing images, practising photography techniques or interacting with fellow photographers.

* You can also use image.canon on your existing Wi-Fi-enabled EOS or compact camera too. It will support manual file transfer at the very least. The full list of compatible cameras is accessible here.

With image.canon, still image and video data can be automatically uploaded to the cloud via a Wi-Fi connection. Once done, you can view them immediately on a smartphone or computer web browser. You can even set the files to be automatically backed up from image.canon to a computer or external storage service!

Supported file formats:
- Still images: JPEG, HEIF, RAW
- Video: MOV, MP4, RAW (including 4K RAW)

A thumbnail file up to dimensions of 2048 pixels will be automatically generated and stored at the same time an original still image or video file is being uploaded. Original quality files will be stored for 30 days from the time of upload. For storage beyond these 30 days, users can migrate the data to a 10 GB long-term storage space. The thumbnail files can be viewed even after the expiration of the original-quality files after the expiration of the 30-day period following the original upload.

 

Change #2: A new way of sharing files to social media

The Camera Connect smartphone app is a cool and really useful tool that links your camera and smartphone, and it’s great for carrying out remote shooting. But ultimately, your smartphone will also run out of space to store your image and video files, especially if you download them in original quality.

Straight from cloud to social media

As image.canon is a cloud-based platform, using the image.canon app enables you to view your images and videos anywhere, any time, and share them on social media without having to first download them to your smartphone. Want to share images through email? You don’t have to download either—instead, you can send an email with a thumbnail and a download link to your intended recipient, banishing the need for a file attachment. No more worries about busting your inbox capacity or data bundle limit.

 

Change #3: A new image editing and management workflow

With image.canon, cloud-based image editing as well as file management will be possible anywhere and at any time, regardless of whether you are using a smartphone, tablet or computer.  image.canon will be expanding its partnerships with various online cloud image management and processing services to make it easier for users to post-process and manage their image and video files.

Here are some partnerships to look forward to:
- Google Photos (from June 2020): Great for users who frequently post images to social media
- Adobe Creative Cloud (paid service) (from June 2020): For advanced amateurs and professionals using the service to post-process and edit images.

Automatic image and video file transfer to these partner third-party services will also be possible.

 

How do I get started?

Usage of image.canon is free. You will need a Canon ID, which you probably already have if you have been using various Canon services. In fact, your SNAPSHOT login ID is also a Canon ID. You will need to register your Canon camera serial number.

On your computer: Access https://image.canon/
On a smartphone: Download the image.canon app

What are you waiting for? Enrich your photography life—go check out image.canon now!

Canon has always been evolving with the times to keep ahead. Learn about how else it stays cutting-edge in:
Celebrating 30 Years of EOS (2): How EOS Evolved to Stay Ahead
Speedlite 470EX-AI: Exploring the World’s First AI Bounce Function
RF Lens: A New Era Of Imaging
HDR PQ HEIF: Breaking Through the Limits of JPEG

 

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