1D Release 2010 Update
Spoke to someone in the know
He feels there’s a strong possibility the camera will be delayed until well into 2010.
He spoke of “a lot of Canon shooters still using 1D Mark IIn’s. Not by choice, but because their newspaper/agency didn’t buy new cameras. The others using Mark III’s don’t see their companies springing for new cameras anytime in the near or distant future. The D3 has sold well, but hasn’t made a massive inroad into the pro world. There’s been some switchers, but not as many as the internet community thinks. This is at least true in the areas of the planet I shoot”
He also said “this might be a good time to delay the release and concentrate on merging the 1D/1Ds line instead. If Canon wants to save R&D and manufacturing costs, this would sure be a good way to do it.”.
There’s going to be tons of opinion on this one, but both Canon and Nikon and the rest are changing strategies on the fly with the current situation around the globe.
cr
March 8th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
thanks for this info!
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March 9th, 2009 at 12:38 am
I don’t see merging the D/Ds line in the near future, I see manufacturing them as similarly as possible and possibly pricing them *almost* the same. The physics of photo-diode size limit the high ISO performance of high resolution sensors, I don’t see a way over this. Merging the line would probably not satisfy the people who want either resolution or high ISO capability. It would be like making a one-size fits all shirt, it ends up fitting no-one. If however the D line goes FF (I assume it will) it will allow for the same camera body precisely (except for the sensor, obviously) to be used for both the D and Ds line. This would streamline manufacturing over the current FF and APS-H lineup by allowing shared mirror/box, shutter, and viewfinder components, as well as the physical chasis. I believe the D and Ds already share almost everything else. That would have to cut assembly costs. And since the parts that make the Ds different (and more importantly less common) would no longer be different or less common, With the only difference being the sensor, the Ds line could finally get away from the repeating loop of “they’re expensive, so few people buy them, and since few people buy them, they’re expensive”. Personally I think a $5000 or $5500 price point is reasonable if the D line stays at $4500, plus, it’d be a great way to kick the D3x, in the same way that the 5D mkII is, by undercutting it. I’m assuming they’re taking a while because Canon wants a pellicle mirror to give continuous feed to AF when desired, but be able to shoot in a normal mirror mode when image clarity and/or ISO performance are imperative. Perfecting that system and coming up with a good control system for it has to take a lot of time. I just hope that they take the time they need to get it right, and do not repeat the 1D mkIII AF debacle, though I doubt they will.
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Zac Reply:
March 9th, 2009 at 12:40 am
repeat the debacle, that is
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March 9th, 2009 at 4:11 am
maybe they’re seeing that nikon has one flagship camera, and are going to follow suit. possibly for the next generation:
1D4 is the merger of the 1D3 and 1Ds3
Better sealing for the 5D2, to upgrade it’s build quality.
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Zac Reply:
March 9th, 2009 at 11:43 am
?
D3 and D3x are parallels to 1D mkIII and 1Ds mkIII, that’s two cameras.
Also 5dmkIIN will likely exist with better sealing and the 1D mkII’s AF system about 18 months from now, full manual video, if that’s not a firmware fix. Canon likes to maintain a hierarchical system within their cameras, but I think they would be happy to improve features in lower end models once they get the 1 series back on top, (or at least tied for the best)
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March 9th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Coonts!! (if true)
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March 9th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Nikon does not have one flagship camera, the D3 and D3x are both flagship cameras. As far as the comment about the D3 not making inroads, in the circle’s I shoot (professional sports) the d3 has definitely made serious inroads. And of those that have switched, I don’t know any that have switched back. I was very tempted to make the transition myself especially with the d700. Still a loyal canon user though.
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March 9th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Hello,
>The physics of photo-diode size limit the high ISO performance of high resolution sensors, I don’t see a way over this. Merging the line would probably not satisfy the people who want either resolution or high ISO capability
Pixel binning could be the answer…
Man,
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Zac Reply:
March 9th, 2009 at 11:50 am
but does that actually *effectively* increase the photo diode size and give the sensor the noise performance? I honestly don’t know…
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March 9th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Canon needs competitive products line regardless of economic situation. Equipments fails and needs replacements, unless Canon have an excellent repair services at good prices (which IMHO, still leaves much to be desired). Replacement options might see many going for D3 + D700 combo.
And unless the R&D for products are completed, Canon might miss the rising economic tide should the situation gets better and companies looks to replace their worn equipments.
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March 9th, 2009 at 8:40 am
The only reason they wouldn’t do this is to separate the flagship models into two revenue streams. Not sure how many pros would buy one of each if they weren’t already planning to buy two cameras anyway, so likely they’ve done this historically to satisfy two separate buyers.
However, the D3x has a high speed crop mode, if I’m not mistaken, so not sure what Zac means about one-size fits all cameras. That’s with current sensors. So with next year’s sensors the issue may be totally irrelevant, hence one flagship.
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Zac Reply:
March 9th, 2009 at 11:49 am
The crop does not have anywhere near the high ISO performance of the D3/D700 sensor, and also, It’s a crop mode, goodbye bokeh and ultra wide motor drive pictures. Also, A lot of higher end Pro photographers own both types of camera, the Ds for work that requires high resolution, and the situation is at least somewhat controlled, the D body for sports games, events, etc… where available light performance and motor drive are more important than resolution.
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Dorkage Reply:
March 9th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Ah, so maybe they should keep both cameras?
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March 9th, 2009 at 10:13 am
The D3 hasn’t made a massive inroad…
Steve Fine at Sports Illustrated disagrees with you… I heard him speak last Thursday AM at PMA…
“… used to be 90% white lenses… at the Beijing Olympics, 60% black lenses…”
I can’t define massive for your Tipster but that’s a pretty “massive” swing in my book…
Can’t agree more that this is a good time to pause… but to pause to get it right and not have the Mk3 problems.
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March 9th, 2009 at 11:54 am
I would have to agree with Jeff, Nikon has in fact made massive inroads, at least in the sports and photojournalism communities. Where I shoot (sports in midwest and southeast), there are a number of canon people who have switched, many in large part b/c they felt client pressure to deliver low light images that displayed the quality of the D3, but found the Mark 3 not to be a workable option due to the early AF problems.
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March 9th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
“The D3 has sold well, but hasn’t made a massive inroad into the pro world. There’s been some switchers, but not as many as the internet community thinks. This is at least true in the areas of the planet I shootâ€Â
In the UK, Reuters have part-exed all their Canon gear and gone Nikon. What does that tell you?
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March 9th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Canon’s strong point is the wide range of lenses they offer.
Unfortunately, many of the designs are ageing and need to be refreshed.
I’d rather see the priority be given to lenses rather than adding more MP.
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March 9th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I want a huge touch screen… Mamiya has it already!
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Zac Reply:
March 9th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I swear I will switch systems if they make it a touchscreen. that is such a terrible interface type for a camera, especially one where settings need to be changed on the fly, plus the menu layout is good, and fast with buttons dials, and the little joystick (multicontroller) touchscreen simply mucks up the screen and makes screwing up in menus easy.
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White Glass Warrior Reply:
March 10th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
An iPhone has a touch screen camera. :)
Touch screen? Why do you want a high frame rate camera when you have to take your eye away from the viewfinder? I think the UI is almost good enough now.
Heck, just make a Canon that has better focus and high ISO work.
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March 9th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
To ppdix,
Shut up you fatso.
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March 10th, 2009 at 8:19 am
I’ve been hanging on hoping that Canon produces a full-frame fast camera, but it looks like it’s not gonna happen anytime soon. Ever since I went digital I’ve been wanting the full-frame, hi-frame rate camera. I still shoot sports (not editorial) for a chunk of my income and as a 15-year Canon user I’m frustrated that it hasn’t happened yet. The D3 has been out for well over a year (approaching a year and a half) and I just spent too many years looking through a full-frame camera to not prefer it. I use the 5d for portrait & much doc work and still have 2 1dmkIIn, it looks like this year I will be making the reluctant switch to Nikon.
s
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March 10th, 2009 at 9:38 am
more important is lenses
i will never buy a 1D, what is for?
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March 10th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Yes Please, yes please, yes please.
This would be my dream come true in both ways.
1) As stated in the post, I’ll never get my boss to upgrade equipment in 2009. (Crisis? What crisis?) 2010 is much more likely, especially if the successor really delivers some resolution- and feature-benefit.
2) A merger of D and Ds into the finest frickin quality at insane speeds with ultra resolution and easy handling is … unlikely. My wet dream but … unlikely ;)
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liord Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
where is canon PowerShot SX2-is ? is canon thinking of updating the SX1-is that Announced on 17-Sep-2008 ?
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