Canon Medium Format?
A lot of discussion around the web about whether or not the 1D X is really a unification of the flagship line. A lot of people want that big megapixel studio camera.

[NL] posted an interesting quote from an interview with Canon Japan recently.

While we hear the voices, we want to see what the actual sales numbers will be for the 1D X and so determine how many 10,000s of customers we might be losing if we do not introduce a higher resolution camera and if the projected profitability of a higher resolution 24×36 mm format camera will justify development, marketing, and manufacturing investments , or if there is a sustainable market for the even greater costs of development, marketing, and manufacturing medium format cameras and lenses – an area where we have no internal expertise.

A few people I have spoken to desire a flagship camera that is high megapixel. They would like performance beyond what could be had for $2500 or so in a 5D Mark III.

I haven’t heard of a medium format prototype within Canon, however I have heard in the past that Canon has considered purchasing a medium format company. I’ve personally never understood why they would, they are more than capable of entering the market themselves.

Canon Mirrorless [CR1]
Will Canon target the niche market with any sort of mirrorless camera in the future? That’s what one person told me this week. There’s no interest in the company in releasing an NEX or Nikon 1 kind of mirrorless.

B&H Deal of the day
B&H has the Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II in stock and selling for $2074 until January 7, 2012.

cr

New EOS
We will see a new camera on Tuesday and below I am confirming what we pretty much already know.

• 1D/1Ds line is about to be amalgamated. (Name Unknown)
• Full Frame
• 18mp
• 12 fps
• 61 AF Points
• New Battery
• Available in March
• Price unknown, but I suspect more than the 1D Mark IV

2012 is shaping up to be an interesting year for EOS.

The previous spec lists are pretty much bang on.

Lenses?
I have received no word of a new lens being announced at the same time. I suspect they’ll stagger announcements. The 24-70 f/2.8L II is the only lens being mentioned. Possibly in November. This isn’t included in the [CR3] rating.

cr

A far fetched spec list?
An amalgamated 1Ds/1D Spec List.

Specifications

• 18mp
• 61 AF Points
• Native ISO of 100-51200
• New Battery
• 150g-200g heavier that current EOS-1s
• October 18 Announcement

CR’s Take
Currently this is the only information I’ve seen in regards to such a camera. I’d rank this as highly unlikely for the moment.

From [NL] via [1K1] originally from [DCI]

cr

What’s coming in 2012
Received some info about a “loose roadmap” for Canon in 2012.

Two things were noted about 2012.

1. It’s the 25th anniversary of EOS
2. It’s an Olympic year as well as Euro 2012.

We will see a DSLR that will be showing for CES/PMA in the 2nd week of January 2012. When the announcement for the camera would be was unknown.

A new 1Ds would follow sometime in February.

Photokina would bring about a 5D Mark II replacement as well as a 7D replacement.

Lenses
All that was said is Canon is concerned about getting production up and then they’ll start announcing lenses. The next round of lenses would be “higher end short focal lengths”.

It was also noted that a lot of existing lenses are on the upgrade schedule, though none were listed.

It was stressed that roadmaps are extremely loose within Canon, and stuff is announced when it’s done. It was noted the trade show schedule isn’t as important as it used to be, though they still want to be talked about at both CES and Photokina.

cr

What say me?
A lot of unknown and exciting things are swirling around that November 3, 2011 announcement in Hollywood. I can tell you truthfully that I have seen just about every possible scenario. What’s true? For the moment I don’t know.

I think EOS will evolve a lot in the coming 12 months, the business of digital SLRs has changed with the advent of video in the segment. I figured I’d offer my opinion on the line partially based on things I’ve been told and things that just make sense to me.

I’ll start at the top of the EOS lineup and work my way down.

By the way, Photokina is next September in Cologne/Koln, Germany. See you there!

*This is NOT fact*

EOS 1D/1Ds
I don’t think we’ll see this camera announced until 2012. I also see the amalgamation of the line has highly possible. If Canon has the technology to give big megapixels as well as frame rate. It makes no sense to produce two different bodies. I’m not sure if we’ve seen the last of APS-H, though I think it’s likely. I could see this body in the $5000-$6000 range.

5D Mark III/3D
The camera most of the planet wants to see announced and shipped now! I don’t think it’s likely to appear before the end of 2011.

If in 2012 the top tier of cameras is merged, there will be a price gap a 5D3/3D could move up to.  Say, $3500. There could be a lot of advanced video features, big megapixels and an upgraded, but not pro body level AF system. I fully expect Canon to figure out a way to directly monetize the video features of DSLRs.

When? I’ve heard anytime between tomorrow and Photokina 2012.

6D
One of the recent rumors has been the coming of a new full frame EOS body added to the lineup. It would be in the $2000 range. It would see a drop in megapixels from the 21 of the 5D Mark II and be solely designed for ISO performance. To meet the price point, I’d expect a modified 9 point AF (more crosstype sensors).

If the 5D3 moves up the latter in performance and price, a $2000 full frame camera at launch would be an industry first and a massive seller. Canon was the first company to break the $1000 price barrier with a DSLR, no reason they can’t do it again.

I can definitely see this as a possibility, though I’m not convinced of it yet.

*correction* The full frame Sony A850 launched at $2000 USD. Thanks for pointing it out.

7D Mark II
I think the 7D will make it all the way through 2012 and into 2013. What is there to improve on the camera? How do you really make it better enough to justify a new model? If Canon is spending a lot of resources on developing 3 new full frame sensors, I could see APS-C remaining relatively unchanged.

The biggest upgrade I think to the 7D will be a price drop over the next 12 months.

60D
As with the 7D, there’s really no need to upgrade this camera. It will only be 2 years come Photokina, and the cycle of camera updates is slowing down.

It’s a good little camera that sells well. I think we’ll see it last into 2013.

T3i/T3
More of the same here (a bit boring eh), I don’t see a new rebel in 2012 either. A domino in the APS-C line will have to fall before they all get an update. Using the same sensor in the 3 cameras is probably great for the bottom line. I can’t see them abandoning that mindset.

Mirrorless
When Canon announces a mirrorless system, I think it’s going to be a standalone product. So it won’t be EF or EF-S compatible. I see Canon launching a unique product to their line, not more of the same. I think the low end of mirrorless cameras is a crowded world, especially with the rainbow of cameras Nikon just announced. So why add another bunch of cameras to the segment? I think the gold mine for Canon is convincing the North American market to buy a mirrorless camera. Their mirrorless camera. So it’s going to have to be different.

To be honest, I really have no great hypothesis of what they’re going to do. It’s something I’d have to think more on.

So that’s it, as of today, that’s the way I see the EOS lineup going. It’s based on some information I’ve received as well as some opinion.

cr

Spec lists
I just wrote in the last post that I wouldn’t post detailed spec lists because they’re rarely, if ever true.

However, it looks like [NL] received the same email we did. I’ll post the spec list now for your entertainment.

5D Mark III

• 24MP
• Pro grade AF (not 7D like)
• 2 stops better ISO than 5D mk II
• Digic V
• 6 fps
• New video codec, not Raw. MPEG 4:2:2, new video functions such as tracking focus in video mode
• Compact body with improved weather sealed
• Same introduction price as the predecessor

1Ds Mark IV

• 54MP (no low pass filter)
• Decent 6400 ISO performance
• Same AF as 1D Mark IV
• 14 stops DR
• 16 bit Raw file (mode to be confirmed)
• Digic V
• Limited new HD video function in comparison with the 5D III

New GPS and wireless device accessories will be introduced around the same time.

Other bits of information from the same email.

• All current L lens  can perform at the level of the 1Ds sensor resolution,there is no low pass filter in front of the sensor  and there is  digital on/off software switch to reduce moire.
• Video function in the new 1Ds is not as  complete  as the one on  the 5D mk II and due the massive data reading of the sensor there is  no MPEG  4:2:2 coded.
• It seems that in one of the prototype there was an option to shoot 16bit Raw  files that this option cut  down dramatically the fps.
• It’s rumored that Canon will also announced one zoom and 2 prime lens with the Ds camera.

As I said earlier, I’m not a big fan or believer of  in-depth spec lists on cameras that are still more than a month away from announcement. If I didn’t post this, I’d get a ton of emails since it appeared on another popular rumor site. Rock and a hard place sort of thing.

Check the previous post for something I think is a bit more believable. I do hope some of you can point out any obvious flaws in this spec list that I have overlooked. Have fun!

cr

1Ds Mark IV strikes again
There is a lot of information floating through my inbox recently. Sorting through what is true, what is a wish and what is old recycled information is what keeps this site from getting boring.

There have been a couple of known sources say there is a lot of  ”misinformation” or “fragmented information” out there.  I dismiss highly detailed spec lists now, they’re just never true.

So why a post about a 1Ds Mark IV?
Well, new information has come from a few sources and when you put it all together, we may be getting somewhere.

Here is a breakdown of specs and features I have received.

1Ds Mark IV Speculations

• 30+ mp (most likely 32)
• 10fps (I have also heard 8)
• DIGIC V (No word on number of processors)
• 1D/1Ds Line Merged
• Announced around the 3rd week of October with an April, 2012 delivery
• The prototypes are/have been in the hands of Canon ambassadors
  

We did post recently that no DSLR would be coming in 2011, if I go by the above information, that’s still true with the April delivery. There can be grey areas with “announcement” and “delivery” when translating.

The first question I asked about the claimed MP and frame rate was; “Can you write to any cards that fast with 30+mp RAW files or would the camera have a giant buffer?” I haven’t heard back yet. I am also wondering if Canon figured out how to make a full frame sensor do 10fps. When speaking about APS-H in the 1D Mark IV, Canon themselves said they couldn’t recycle a full frame sensor fast enough to do 10fps. Hence Nikon’s 9fps on the D3/D3s.

Again, all of this is very vague and in my experience, vague is better.

cr

From Art Wolfe’s Facebook Status

“I just wanted to extend an extra thank you to @Michael Gurley from Canon for bringing the keys to the candy store this past weekend for the workshop participants. Mike brought with him just about every Canon lens from the widest fish eyes, tilt shift, macro and on through through 800mm along with numerous backs including the new 1DS Mark 4. Everyone had a great time trying out new lenses and backs and we really appreciate it.”

Art would be a guy that would have an advanced look, I’m just not sure it wasn’t a typo. The NDA he’d be under would be strict.

*UPDATE*
Apparently Art updated his status to say “1D Mark IV”. Probably a typo………. The weird thing is he also removed the word “new”. Sometimes I randomly add the word “new” to sentences as new well.

*UPDATE 2*
Art Wolfe’s friend who posted the Facebook status line has written in with a big apology for riling up the Canon masses with a post that was in error. They were using 1Ds Mark IIIs and 1D Mark IVs on their workshop.

He apologizes for the frenzy that has been created.

cr

Back and forth
Everyone wants to know when Canon will announce their next camera bodies. I’m wondering the same thing. Daily, I am getting contradictory information. What this makes me believe is Canon doesn’t yet have an announcement date decided. The Japan disaster has had a deep and lasting effect on camera body production.

I’ve heard as early as October for a new DLSLR and as late as February. Some people are saying the 5D Mark III will be before the 1Ds Mark IV and others are saying it the other way around.

There is nothing solid I can pass on right now in regards to DSLRs, I just wanted to clear that up.

cr

Which comes first………
The 1ds Mark IV or 5D Mark III?

Some people [NL] are being told the 1Ds Mark IV will arrive before the 5D Mark III based on known sources. I’ve been told the opposite by known sources. It’s still too early to say for sure it seems.

Lenses
As mentioned above, a few “interesting” lenses would be arriving with the 1Ds4/5d3. I’ve heard similar things in the last month or so.

I’ve been told there will be a “massively popular” lens as well as 2 more specialized lenses before the end of 2012.

Lens rumors have always been harder to nail down, as I think manufacturing plays a big roll in deciding when a lens can be announced and released.

For now, sit tight. The next announcement is going to be for a couple more PowerShots, then the good stuff.

cr

The Next DSLR?
I’m told we’ll be seeing the 5D Mark III announced in October, with delivery shortly there after. I was not given any specs, which is probably a good sign.

We said originally, that the 5D Mark III would come before a 1Ds Mark IV or similar camera. Things appear to have come full circle and negate a lot of what I’ve been told this fall in regards to the 5D3.

Next Announcement Date?
We have the middle of September, possibly September 13-September 15 timeframe for a few more PowerShots. Some folks don’t read the site all that well and have posted other dates quoting us.

We should see the S95 & SX30 successors.

G13? We have heard absolutely nothing about a new G camera. It’s genrally on a 1 year product cycle, which would make it due for replacement any day now.

cr

*Busted*
Another spec list torn apart by the community. The crop factors are off to a lot of people. APS-C isn’t 1/1.6.

Received 8 spec lists today! I expect 1.6x more tomorrow.

1D Mark V
A new claimed spec list of the upcoming 1D Mark 5.

We’re still getting conflicting 1Ds Mark IV & 1D Mark V model names. I’m still not sure what the new flagship will be called.

• Sensor: 36 x 24mm CMOS sensor
• Processor: Dual DIGIC 5
• A/D conversion: 14 bit
• Image sizes: 32.4 mp, 16.2 mp, 8.1 mp @ 5, 3 fps
• APS-H mode (1.3x) – 24.9 mp, 12.5 mp, 6.2 mp @ 8, 3 fps
• APS-C mode (1.6x) – 20.3 mp, 10.1 mp, 5.1 mp @ 10, 3 fps
• Movie Mode: 1920 x 1080 @ 29.97, 25, 23.976 fps
• 1280 x 720 @ 59.94, 50 fps
• 640 x 480 @ 59.94, 50 fps
• APS-H mode (1.3x) – 1920 x 1080 @ 59.94, 50 fps
• APS-C mode (1.6x) – 1280 x 720 @ 119,88, 100 fps
• Viewfinder: Magnification: 0.76x, 100% frame coverage
• APS-H viewfinder magnification zoom: 0.87x – 89% viewfinder crop
• APS-C viewfinder magnification zoom: 1.0x – 82% viewfinder crop

Go on and discuss what you think. This is fairly inline with what we’ve heard previously.

cr

New Stuff?
I received a couple of emails today saying both the 1Ds Mark IV and 24-70 would be arriving in two weeks. This will be before the IFA event in Berlin.

1Ds Mark IV
The 1Ds Mark IV briefly appeared on Canon’s official web site. You can check that out at Photography Bay.

Still Quiet
I have to admit, all is still pretty quiet on the rumor front. One person has suggested we may get up to 3 different announcement dates in 2011. One for PowerShot, one for a flagship DSLR  and another lens announcement.

There has been absolutely nothing saying a 5D Mark III would be announced in 2011. Still a 2012 Q1 product in a lot of peoples eyes.

Quiet at CR
I’ve been away for a few days making sure my marriage remains intact. :)

cr

From Germany
I received a price list from a German dealer today, omitted on the price list was the 1Ds Mark III and 1D Mark IV. The dealer is a pro dealer.

5D Mark II Crazy Price
Best Buy dumping 5D Mark II’s for what appears to be below cost.

Visit Best Buy 5D Mark II Listing

Canon Australia bug or more?
The 5D Mark II is listed twice on the Canon Australia web site, it wasn’t like this a little while ago. A placeholder or a mistake?

http://www.canon.com.au/en-AU/For-You/EOS-Digital-SLR-Cameras

*UPDATE* It was pointed out to me that if you click the second 5D Mark II link, the URL says “6D” at the end. *thanks Mike*

Nothing else too crazy today.

cr