Messages

226

EOS Bodies / Re: 37 Megapixel 1Ds Mark IV? [CR1]

« on: April 17, 2011, 10:09:35 AM »

I'm all for 40mp as long as we also get an improvement in DR. I'm not referring to the the very artificial lab test definition, but usable out in the field DR. It's the one area I feel it is still behind film.

Hopefully like one or two other top end manufacturers they can work out a way to remove the AA filter, which I gather is one of the things holding better DR back. One less artificial object between the subject and the sensor as well, which can only be a good thing.

227

EOS Bodies / Re: DIGIC V [CR1]

« on: April 14, 2011, 03:09:32 PM »

BennyJ,

It's not simply  the RAW format, its more complicated than that. I cannot see the digital camera sensor lasting in it's present form, it's simply far too expensive to produce. So assuming a better and cheaper method will arrive at some time, probably out of some eccentric geniuses shed, I believe we will be using very different processing methods.

Like you I don't trust computer software producers as far as I can throw them, but I'd trust Canon/Nikon etc more than I'd trust third parties like Adobe, who have shown a scant regard for existing customers over the years.     

228

EOS Bodies / Re: DIGIC V [CR1]

« on: April 14, 2011, 06:45:03 AM »

For the time being I'd much prefer to keep manufacturer specific processing methods. It keeps the door open for major advances. Locking everyone into a particular RAW "flavour" this early in the development of digital cameras seems like tying designers hands behind their backs.

I don't find it a problem. Canon provide me with DPP, which is designed to work with the RAW formats they use. I don't have to buy it, it's offered completely free and gets updated frequently (v3.9.4 is the latest release).

By the way, "Amateur Photographer" has a short article this week on Bayer pattern sensors which mentions a host of adjustments the processor has to do to the basic data it receives. So it's easy to see how the Digic5 might have taken 4 years of work, and why its essential it works well with whatever sensor it is harnessed to. 

229

EOS Bodies / Re: 1D & 1Ds Rumors [CR1]

« on: April 08, 2011, 01:28:09 PM »

If the announcement was not really meaning  medium format then I'm a lot happier and am likely to be one of the first standing in line for a 40mp full frame body. But why mention medium format if Canon don't mean it? That's just crazy. If it's an oblique reference to the "square" sensor thats been floated before, then thats not MF and its stupid to pretend it is.

A 40mp 36 x 24mm sensor would buy Canon a year or so's breathing space before the opposition match it. Given the delay in the introduction of the 1Ds mk4, anything less than 40mp would prove to me that Canon have been asleep for a couple of years. Even at 40, they will not have bought themselves much time, so it needs to come with best in class DR and noise control.   

230

EOS Bodies / Re: 1D & 1Ds Rumors [CR1]

« on: April 08, 2011, 09:19:39 AM »

So you think Canon may be thinking of a compromise? Using existing lenses on a medium format sensor? It seems a curiously warped decision if so. Neither fish nor fowl. 40MP I'm all in favour of provided its on a 36 x 24mm frame, but 40MP on a medium frame sensor does not even match the best existing MF offerings. If Canon are serious about medium format then they need to do the job properly, with a range of MF lenses and a body with maybe 80 or 100mp.

Of course time will tell, but on the face of it this news has left me a little under-whelmed. I hope this is Canon testing consumer reaction and not a serious suggestion.   

231

Lenses / Re: UV filter for 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II?

« on: April 07, 2011, 04:00:15 PM »

I would second fotox.tv,

While I do use Neutral grads and a polarising filter when the occasion demands, I would never leave a filter attached because of the possibility of flare. Why chance it? Having paid a vast sum for a lens with better optics, reducing the resolution with a screw on filter seems daft to me. The lens hood on the mark 2 is a very sturdy one and as I use it all the time, that is my protection.

232

Site Information / Re: What originally brought you to canon rumors?

« on: April 04, 2011, 04:47:40 PM »

I've been keeping an eye on the rumours for around two years. Having dipped my toe into the digital water and convinced myself that I'm a convert "dispite myself", I want a body that will last me a considerable period, not one that constantly leaves me thinking about yet another upgrade. For this reason I have been taking a keen interest in the 1Ds in all its incarnations.

My requirements are an odd mixture of extremes. I am keen on landscape and travel images, yet am also into MotoGP, Superbikes, hill climbs and F1. As I never use the motor drive for any of my motorsports shots, my thinking is to get a top-end "all-rounder" and I believe (hope?) the next 1Ds will be the one. If not, then I'll continue to wait until something or someone does offer something that fits.

I tend to use a tripod (or monopod for motorsport) rather than hand hold and would much rather Canon concentrated on the low ISO, high DR, quality end of the spectrum rather than high ISO and video. If I have to move to Hasselblad or Pentax, then I will do so, but I have a heavy investment in Canon "L" glassware so would prefer to stick with them if at all possible.

233

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D3, 1D5 and 1Ds4 Timeline [CR1]

« on: April 01, 2011, 01:27:41 PM »

I could live with a 1Ds mk4 like that, provided we do see 40mp. In fact given the possible alternatives, that would suit me pretty well.

Unlike almost everyone else on the planet (or so it seems) I have no interest in video whatsoever. Film making is a totally different field of expertise and it leaves me cold. I will go to my grave believing that video should be left to video cameras and film makers.

No, my requirements from a new 1Ds are simple, superb DR, lowest noise in a dSLR to date and suberb low ISO performance, down to ISO25 please Canon. I have no interest in ISO's beyond 1600.

However, if Canon were planning to simply do that, we would have had it at least 6 months ago. I believe the chatter that claims Canon withdrew the mk4 simply because they decided that to stick with the minimal upgrades as before. There are too many competitors in the "studio" camera market now, Canon would effectively be saying "OK fellas, we've had a good run at the top, now it's your turn". No, Canon must respond to the Pentaxes and the Hasselblads if they wish to retain a foothold in the sector. 

234

Lenses / Re: Canon price increase enforcement

« on: March 30, 2011, 03:39:29 PM »

Interesting. I wonder how Canon enforce this?

I part exchanged a non IS 70-200 f/2.8L for the newest mk11 IS version and managed to get an excellent deal from my local shop (better than any web based price I could find). But when the paperwork was being completed I was asked if I minded whether the new lens price was shown at Canons RPR and the part-ex lens shown at a very inflated price on the sales receipt. As it made no difference to the actual cash changing hands I agreed, but it did occur to me that "big brother" might be watching.

So deals can be struck, but maybe only in dark corners when Canon are not listening?

235

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D3, 1D5 and 1Ds4 Timeline [CR1]

« on: March 28, 2011, 03:27:42 PM »

I agree, more pixels will show even at A4, never mind A3 or A2 print sizes. The improvements will get more subtle as pixel counts of 21mp are compared to 32 or 40, but it IS visible in print. I will never throw away pixels. It's difficult to explain the difference in appearance. I would describe it thus: the whole image seems smoother, more "depth".     

236

EOS Bodies / Re: Is the Canon EOS 3D possible?

« on: March 26, 2011, 11:58:38 AM »

The Eos3 was the camera that triggered my switch from Nikon to Canon. It was and still is a wonderful camera and I'd love Canon to introduce a digital version. Exactly the same concept but with a top-end sensor and I'd be one of the first in line outside the shop.

But I have been led to believe that Canon did not consider the eye-controlled AF enough of an attraction, many users just did not spend enough time educating the camera (yes, it needed to be taught about the users eye!) and having got frustrated with it, turned the feature off. I am still amazed by it myself, 45 AF points, all of them available and ready to focus seemingly at the speed of light on whatever I looked at. It AF's faster still than any other camera I have ever used.

While still a very popular argument in the forums, the theory that the resolution of lenses are/will be a limiting factor is, I believe, a discredited theory. It assumed it was impossible to improve the optics and that's just not true as we are seeing. Canon are committed to upgrading their "L" range of lenses and while they will never admit it, I think its a major factor. There was no need to produce better lenses until sensors reached the point of needing them, that point will soon be upon us so the lenses are now being improved.   

237

EOS Bodies / Re: 3 More DSLR's in 2011? [CR1]

« on: March 24, 2011, 04:12:34 PM »

bvukich,

You are assuming that a mirror is an essential piece of the puzzle. I think that any serious "square" format based on the 35mm model might well be designed without the mirror/pentaprism assembly.

The alternative, which would allow the mirror and pentaprism to stay would be to increase the standard back focus length. Of course this means specially designed lenses and I don't see that happening any time soon.

But as I've already said, I think the rumours suggesting a square format will remain just rumours. Especially as we now know that before the disaster in Japan Canon were investigating medium format companies to get a ready-made toehold in that market.

 

238

EOS Bodies / Re: 3 More DSLR's in 2011? [CR1]

« on: March 24, 2011, 02:48:08 PM »

tzalmagor,

I'm exactly in the opposite camp, I desperately want to know what Canon plan to offer us in the next 1Ds. I'm less bothered about a release date than seeing the specifications ASAP. A release in 2012 would be fine as long as it's worth the wait.

I don't see it being anything other than a full framer, unless it's a "square full frame" AKA 36mm x 36mm. But if they do that I'd be very surprised, pleasantly surprised it has to be said, but surprised nontheless. Canon after all tend to be conservative, they are not risk takers by nature. 

239

Canon General / Re: Canon falling behind in sensor performance

« on: March 21, 2011, 04:46:55 PM »

It's become almost a tradition for Canon to come to any party late. But that allows the company to get it right, so may not be a bad thing.

Yes, they have lost the megapixel race for the time being and I can well imagine Canon are shocked to realise it, but surely thats why the 32MP 1Ds mark4 was pulled, because (I hope) Canon are working on a different concept. Or they will be when Japan gets back to business as usual.

I cannot get excited about processor chip generations. The processor either does what it needs to do or does not. End of story. Whether thats a Digic 4 or 5 or 25 I'm not bothered.

240

EOS Bodies / Re: Should I wait?

« on: March 18, 2011, 04:32:50 PM »

Canon have a large enough range that theres always going to be one camera or another about to be updated. I take the view that if the camera does what I need, then why worry about more bells and whistles.

I still use a 30D, which will do me until the 1Ds mk4 appears. It was my introduction to digital and was bought only about 3 months before the 40D appeared, but that did not bother me at all. I have seen newer bodies come and go but made the concious decision not to upgrade until I can get at least 4 times the 30D's 8 (and a bit) MP. If the 1Ds4 is anything like its rumoured to be, I expect to still be using it in 10 years time.

So you see my mindset. Based on that,  my advise would be to be very honest with yourself about what you need a camera to do. As others have said, video is the newest gimmick, but do you want it? Do you want to print at A2 or bigger, or will A4 do? Do you expect to shoot available light images in a coal hole or at midnight or could you cope with less than stratospheric ISO's? Answer these questions and many others and you might find that you are focussing in on an existing camera rather than hoping that an as yet unannounced one will be the answer to your prayers. On the other hand should you decide that your analysis has shown you that you do need the 5D3 or 8D (or indeed like me the 1Ds4), then so be it.