Canon Rumors

1D Mark X [CR2]

A few things
A few places around the web are talking about an April timeframe at the earliest for the 1D replacement. A few people I spoke to said June is a possibility for an announcement with a fall launch. I still think an announcement in and around September. There will then be a good supply by the time the Vancouver 2010 games start in February.

A few things I’ve received in random emails about possible features of the 1Dx.

- Sport mode. Which will basically be an sRaw file at a very fast framerate.
- The camera will be full frame and anywhere between 15-21mp. No consensus on this.
- Internal memory. I don’t think this will ever happen.
- AF Mode in movies. 24P mode as well. I can see various modes coming for the video feature, I’m not sure what AF in movie mode would require to be useful.
- Full color top display, perhaps OLED. Why not?

I get constant emails about lenses. This is the info I currently have. It’s not much.

- 35 f/1.4L II is coming, but not until the fall 2009. A few people are talking PMA for this lens.
- 24-70 f/2.8L II IS is in the upgrade cycle, no word on when it’s coming to market.
- A new 200 f/2.8L IS Macro. Adding IS to a consumer macro would be dumb if it’ll raise the price $250, I don’t get why Nikon did it. The L however, there would be a market for that.
- The Tilt Shift lenses will get an update in two parts over the next 24 months.

With the economics of the planet right now, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Canon target niche lenses for introduction this year, and holding off on the consumer/prosumer products until 2010.

Discuss and keep the info coming.

T-Shirts
T-shirts should be shipped out to the winners on Monday. Hopefully they’ll get to you before Christmas day.

cr

Canon at PMA 2009 [CR3]

What could be coming?
There is a lot going on in Canon’s war room about what to do with PMA 2009. As we all know, the DSLR market in 2009 is expected to fall off a fair bit. The predicted rebound will be coming in 2010.

On a scale of 1-5, which cameras are likely to get a replacement at PMA.

Rebel XSi (Released Jan. 2008)
Canon had committed to a 1 year product cycle. However, that could be held off until the fall of 2009.
————————————————————————————–
Likelihood of a replacement at PMA: 3.5

Rebel XS (Released Jun. 2008)
There was a possibility of this being reduxed earlier than one year, consider that a dead rumour now. The XS will be replaced in the fall.
————————————————————————————–
Likelihood of replacement at PMA: 1

A New Rebel
There is a chance Canon could add a third Rebel to their lineup. This Rebel would add HD video, VGA LCD, 15.1mp, DIGIC IV. Sony has done well with their strategy.
————————————————————————————–
Likelihood of a new Rebel at PMA: 3

40D (Released August, 2007)
Canon had committed to this lineup being on a 1 year product cycle. The 50D proved that. Will Canon keep the 40D going beyond the new year? It’s unlikely. I will keep a close eye on 40D stocks. Could a 60D come at PMA to add HD Video to the class? No one I spoke to thinks so.
————————————————————————————–
Likelihood of a 60D at PMA: 1
Likelihood the 40D remains current beyond PMA: 2.5

A new Full Frame
The fabled EOS 3D. We talk about it every 6 months. Is it coming at PMA? Don’t bet on it. Let’s see if Canon has been able to meet the demands for the 5D Mark II.
————————————————————————————–
Likelihood of a 3D at PMA: 1.5

1D Mark IV (February, 2007)
Everyone wants a new one to showup ASAP. I’m receiving no information that Canon is about to launch a new 1D camera. I don’t think the worries of the economy would affect a model like this, anyone that can afford one will buy one. They will obviously be redoing the autofocus system and developing a new sensor. It’s tough to think that they could do that in 2 years, especially after the added development time to fix the 1D3.
————————————————————————————–
Likelihood of a 1D Mark III replacement at PMA: 3 (It’s a rating that doesn’t say much, but no one is saying much.)

Flagship P&S [CR2.5]
I am hearing rumors of a new CMOS based flagship P&S camera. Something that will be a departure from the G series. That’s really all the info I have at the moment. Think along the lines of the LX3, with industry leading noise & lens performance. It won’t be cheap.
————————————————————————————–
Likelihood of a flagship P&S at PMA: 3.5

Lenses:
There will be 2 launched at PMA [CR3]. That all but assures us a new camera body is coming.

1001 Noisy Cameras did their predictions a few days ago. Read them [here]

cr

1D Mark IV [CR2.5]

First set of specs
This is the first set of specs I’ve received in regards to the 1D Mark IV.

MP: 21.1 FF
ISO: 100-12800 (L:50 - H: 51,200)
Proc: Dual DIGIC IV
LCD: 3.5″ VGA LCD (Not sure about this)
FPS: 10fps
AF: 45 Point AF
AF: Face Detection
Feature: Various Crop Modes
Feature: LiveView with new AF
Feature: Movie Mode
Feature: Ergonomic Updates
Feature: GPS
Feature: Wifi
Feature: Dual CF & SD (4 total slots)
Announcement: Fall 2009

Possibility: A super high speed cropped shooting mode.

The source says not to expect it to be announced with any other camera. It’ll receive it’s own heavily promoted launch.

cr

1D & 1Ds Updates in 2009 [CR3]

What’s going on?
I’ve been asking a few people on their thoughts about the chances of seeing new pro bodies in 2009. The general consensus has been that we might see a 1D near the end of 2009 and will not see a new 1Ds until 2010.

1D
Since the sub mirror fix, the 1D has been selling relatively well. Obviously not as well as Canon hoped before the release. People have had very good experiences with the camera and the positive press from users has helped with a resurgence of sales.

1Ds
It has sold about as well as planned. It’s a high margin camera with a price tag that probably won’t be staying stable through 2009. You can expect solid price drops. It’s a great camera, with amazing resolving power that impresses anyone that uses it. Like the 1D, it’s just missing the “sexiness” of the D3… whatever that means.

Nikon D3/D3x
It appears Nikon will be launching a 24mp version of the D3 on the 1st of December if our friend at Nikon Rumors is correct. This will be sure to cause a lot of Canonites to become quite angry and green. I can almost see the forum threads now!

2009 isn’t going to be Canon’s year of “wow”(sorry Microsoft) unless you want a new Rebel or a 60D. So sit tight, and enjoy making great images with your currect EOS-1’s… I will be.

cr

What do you want in the next 1D?

2009 will probably bring an update
If Canon sat you down and wanted your ideas on what you want to see in the next 1D, what would you say?

As a user of a 1D3, which I think is a remarkable camera and competes very well with the D3. Having used both before buying one, I chose the camera with the better IQ below ISO 3200/6400. There were a few other factors that went into the purchase decision as well.

I’ve said here before, I’ve never had an issue with the AF.

My Wants in my next camera (yeah, I’ll buy one)

1. A 2nd joystick – For AF points selection when shooting vertically.
2. Full Frame – I’ve gone back and forth on this, the only reason I want it full frame is so I don’t have to get a 24 to replace my 35. There’s been a few times the 35 hasn’t been quite wide enough on the 1.3 crop. Would I be upset with a 1.3 crop again? Absolutely not.
3. 12mp tops — Please, please, please! I’m happy with my memory cards and I’m more than happy with the resolution and print results from the camera. I’m not holding my breath on this.
4. Quieter Silent Shutter Mode – It’s quiet now, be nice to be Leica rangefinder quiet!
5. Dual CF — I would use it, I never use the SD slot.
6. Improve IQ at “normal ISO” – ISO 25,600 is fantastic and all, but if I have to choose where I want IQ improvements to go, it’s definately in the 100-1600 range. This is where 90% of my shots are taken. I want the best sharpness, color and dynamic range Canon can produce at these ISO’s. I do not want any of that sacrificed so we can have ISO 102,400. If they can do both…. I’m down with that.

What’s not on my list?
For one reason or another, the following things I don’t really care about.. or I expect to be on the next camera.

1. Improved LiveView AF – The only time I’ve used LiveView is because I want critical manual focus done and exposure simulation.
2. VGA LCD – It’ll be on the camera, but honestly… I didn’t find it of much use on the D3. I know if an image is in focus or not with a standard LCD. It’s pretty to look at though, and by no means am I against it.
3. More AF Points – I’ve never once wished I had more, I generally only use the outside ring anyway. What I do like about the 1.3 crop is the AF point spread coverage, I found the D3’s AF points to be really crammed into the middle of the frame. If they do go Full Frame with the 1D, I’d like better spread.
4. Movie Mode — Ask me about this after I play with a 5D2. I’m not sure how I’d work this into my business. Not so much would people want it, but how the heck would I do it and not miss great still moments? The other thing? I really hate editing movie files!
5. More FPS! – 10 was fantastic when I am shooting sports stuff, more? Whatever… just more editing.

So what would you like to see?

cr

Canon in 2009 - Thom Hogan

Some predictions from Thom Hogan
Nikon superstar and generally well spoken Thom Hogan has some predictions in regards to the industry in 2009.

This is what he sees from Canon:

1) 50/50 on 1D Mark III Replacement.
2) “A bigger than FX sensor Canon is the one special thing that could show up in 2009.”
3) To retain market leadership at around 40% of dSLR with the sales of Rebels. (Nikon 37%, Sony 13% currently)

I haven’t heard anything concrete about Canon going into medium format. When I do, I’ll talk about it here.

I fully believe the 1D Mark III will get a redo in 2009, it may not be until the end of 2009 however. Everyone I speak too doesn’t think Canon is too eager to release the camera until it is truly ready and proper QC has been done. There is a new AF system in the works but no where near completed.

Thom’s article

cr

1D Mark V [CR2]

What’s coming?
I received a bit of info about the upcoming 1D replacement.

1) We can expect it in the spring with a new AF system.
2) Movie mode will have a form of AF that performs better than current liveview SLR’s.

cr

Canon EOS-1Di [CR2]

World’s fastest dSLR?
Submitted via email. There are press release elements and points in regards to the press release. Someone spent a lot of time on this, or it’s real. You decide.

What is Wardriving?
“Wardriving is the act of searching for Wi-Fi wireless networks by a person in a moving vehicle, using a portable computer or PDA.” - Wiki

“I got this off a laptop while wardriving, there were no images. its obviously a draft, but contains some good info.”

CANON U.S.A. BRINGS IN NEW PROFESSIONAL LINE, 8.2-MEGAPIXEL, 22 FPS, APS-C EOS-1Di DIGITAL SLR EVOLUTION CONTINUED

Ultra-High FPS, New Eletronic Mirror, and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors Powers the EOS-1Di Making It The World’s Fastest Digital SLR

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., November 4, 2008 - The new 8.2-megapixel, APS-C Canon EOS-1Di Digital SLR camera brings the advantages of APS-C sensors to professionals. At a mind blowing 22 frames per second, the EOS-1Di digital SLR can fire huge eletronic-driven bursts of 320 Large JPEGs or 100 RAW files because it employs the new Dual DIGIC 4 image processor engine, providing enough computational horsepower to do parallel processing at a rate unmatched by any other digital SLR. The all-new 8.2 megapixel, APS-C size CMOS sensor which is designed and manufactured by Canon, is the most light-sensitive and innovative sensor that Canon has developed to date. It features the same gapless mircro lens array found in the new EOS-50D digital SLR. This results in exceptional image quality and an amazing ISO range of 50 to 6400 with extensions to ISO 25 and a highly usable ISO 12800.

The Canon EOS-1Di digital SLR is scheduled to begin shipping in early December and will have an estimated selling price of $2999. This makes the new camera a stunning bargain and a “must have” for pro shooters looking to add the versatility of a APS-C sensor to their line up.

“The new EOS-1Di digital SLR is an essential tool for professional sports photographers and photojournalists because of its exceptional speed and durability and it will attract a broad range of other professional and advanced amateur photographers because of its superior image quality and high low-light performance,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon U.S.A. Inc. “In designing the EOS-1Di digital SLR, Canon responded to the requests of its many professional customers by adding new features that cater to their demanding needs. But at the same time, we have once again raised the bar for digital SLR cameras by introducing new technologies that only Canon can offer with the legendary EOS System.”

- I don’t like the use of APS-C. can we say it another way?
- we need to make another quote, this one was copied from previous release
- good start, just need to reword copied text

Evolved Mirror
- title has been selected, body need to be writen with following facts
- new eletronic mirror that is fixed in place
- eletronically controlled to make it transparent
- viewfinder is darken during continous shooting, not blacked out, also useable with movie mode and live view
- sensor is sealed from dust, no more anti-dust system required, impossible for dust to touch sensor
- negligible transmission loss due to light passing transparent mirror
- autofocus sensor alignment issues do not exist anymore
- eletronic mirror also replaces shutter, allows for shutters speeds up to 1/128,000 and no limits on x-sync
Developed and manufactured by Canon specifically for the EOS-1Di digital SLR, the camera’s new fully eletronic mirror replaces what many thought was unreplaceable.

- need a title and body to detail the advantages of 1.6x crop here

Dual “DIGIC 4″ Image Processors
Fulfilling the ultra-low noise, ultra-high image quality promise of the EOS-1Di digital SLR camera requires handling the enormous signal processing requirements of the camera’s 8.2-megapixel resolution and top continuous shooting speed of 22 frames per second. To accomplish this, Canon has incorporated two identical DIGIC 4 imaging engines into the camera for parallel (and hence, faster) signal processing. The CMOS sensor reads out to the dual “DIGIC 4″ processors simultaneously in eight channels. DIGIC 4 is the next generation of Canon’s proprietary image processing engine. This technology ensures the fine details and natural colors of images are optimally recorded and, as an added bonus, is responsible for the EOS-1Di SLR’s high-speed performance, faster signal processing and more efficient energy consumption.

Adding to the improved virtuosity of the images captured by the EOS-1Di digital SLR camera is the camera’s 16-bit Analog-to-Digital (A/D) conversion process. Able to recognize 65,536 colors per channel (four times the number of colors recognized by the EOS-1Ds Mark III Digital SLR camera’s 14-bit conversion capability), this new model is able to produce images with finer and more accurate gradations of tones and colors. Additionally, given the significantly larger number of image file created when shooting at high speed by the EOS-1Di digital SLR camera, Canon has provided compatibility with the new Ultra Direct Memory Access (UDMA) compact flash memory card specification, which enables ultra-high-speed data transfer to the card. Utilizing a UDMA compliant card doubles the data transfer speed compared to a conventional memory card, putting the new EOS-1Di Mark III on par with the 10 frames per second EOS-1D Mark III camera, even though the frame rate this new model is more than twice as fast.

- UDMA isn’t new anymore, might need to remove or reduce

Advanced Autofocus Technology
The EOS-1Di autofocus system has 45 AF points including 19 high-precision cross-type points and 26 Assist AF points. This new array allows the 19 cross-type points to be divided into groups of nine inner and nine outer focusing points plus a center point, which makes picking an individual focusing point much faster and easier than going through all 45. During manual AF point selection, the AF point area is expandable in two stages via Custom Function control.

Micro-adjustment feature allows for very fine changes in the AF point of focus for each lens type in use, along with the addition of adjustable focus-tracking sensitivity as another sophisticated new AF feature. Other new components in the AF system include the brand new eletronic mirror and the secondary image formation lens, both products of Canon’s vast expertise in optical engineering. Finally, the low-light sensitivity of the new AF sensor has been doubled to EV-1 for superior performance, compared with earlier EOS digital SLRs.

- we should say something about how the AF is even better than the 1D Mark III

cr

Announcement in February? [CR3]

February 10, 2009?
I received some info today that Canon is planning their next announcements on February 10, 2009.

SLR’s being announced:
1D Mark IV (won’t be given the “4/IV”moniker)
Rebel XSi Replacement
Rebel XS Replacement

*UPDATE* As always with Canon, there’s a chance these cameras will be split into 2 different days of announcements. Ala the 50D and 5D2.

Lenses
There will be 2 lens announcements. One of them will not be the 35L, that’s being held for the 1Ds4 launch in the fall.

The 40D will also be discontinued by this time and the 50D will come in around the $1000 mark. This will again leave a gaping price point in Canon’s lineup. The source didn’t say there would be a camera added to the lineup beyond the replacements, It just looks like there could be…. again.

One thing that could determine Canon’s direction with product announcement is how well this Christmas season goes and how the economics of the planet are doing. A model or two could be held off until Christmas 2009.

cr

1D Mark IV [CR1.5]

Some Specs
From the “NDA's broken over a few beers” source…

* Redesigned AF system! AF points can be visibly seen during servo mode now if you turn it on. he said he hasn't tried that much servo mode but claims it works “just fine”.

* 16 megapixel sensor. He didn't talk about the microlenses and wasn't sure on the design of those. He did say the low light/high ISO was amazing but didn't know the technical details on the sensor's production.
* Still 10fps…
* 3″ VGA resolution screen with 1:1 pixel view.
* Still 1.3x crop…
* 1080p/720p selectable video (still 30fps he seems to think as framerate was not selectable). A Canon wireless mic may be an accessory…
* ISO range 100-6400 expandable in third stop steps to H1 and H2 - and L for ISO 50. (much like what Nikon have done). He said that ISO 25 was available on a model he had but it had some technical issues.
* ExFAT support as an option for formatting cards but the default is still FAT32.
* SD/CF has been retained. One card can be configured for video and another for photos.
* Same look/feel as the 1D III

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readf … d=29431935