More Medium Format Talk

[Canon Rumors]

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A larger EF mount?

More talk about a Canon medium format system.

It’s suggested nothing will be announced until Canon has a complete “system”. Which means, lenses. A larger version of the EF lens mount will be created and lenses will be influenced by Canon’s newest cinema lenses.

The goal with product development is to have a “show stealing” announcement for Photokina 2014.

Source: [NL]

cr

[neuroanatomist]

CR -2, but fun speculation, nevertheless.

[mustafa]

A large mirrorless, viewfinder-less, slow-focusing brick?  It could be the new Speed Graphic!

Or have they learnt their (M) lesson?

[Sporgon]

Maybe it'll be a real medium format:  6x7 

They say there's no smoke without fire and we seem to be getting a fair amount of smoke on this one. I wonder if this is going to be Canons answer to high mp count. In a way it would make sense. 18 to 22 mp on FF when used with optimum technique really does give exceptional resolution for the format. Even temple guy has inadvertently demonstrated here on CR that 36 from 22 is very much a diminished return.

Maybe Canons intention is to produce an 'affordable' MF system for those that really do need that amount of pixel power.

[Dylan777]

If this rumor is true, I wonder how many of us can afford medium format?

Wonder how much? I never touch or own anything bigger than 35mm(FF).

[Don Haines]

Go big or go home..... 4X5... Or 8X10....  Take the pixel size of the 70D and you have a 3gigapixel sensor..... Almost enough resolution to take a picture of Fluffy to put on Facebook

[tnargs]

Canon needs this like a gun pointed at their head -- which is what it would be.

[jebrady03]

The goal with product development is to have a “show stealing” announcement for Photokina 2014.

And the goal of rumoring it now is to steal the show from the "show stealing" announcement!  lol

[UrbanVoyeur]

Oh gee, just what the world needs, another medium format system. Large, slow, hideously expensive, with a sensor that is completely surpassed by small cameras every 3 years. Except this one will be firmware crippled just like Canon's cinema line.

[kphoto99]

A larger EF mount?

Imagine the MF lenses with an adapter mounted onto a FF camera. Can you say ultra sharp (ignore the cost while you are imagining this).

[RGF]

I think thatCanon is very confused.   They look at $ for cine lens and potential MFN bodies and combine these with 1Dx sales.  Ain't going to happen.   At $50-75K per system, sales will be very low.   

[saizo]

A larger EF mount?

Imagine the MF lenses with an adapter mounted onto a FF camera. Can you say ultra sharp (ignore the cost while you are imagining this).

active EF tilt shift adapter 
will make me buy lens or two to use on FF until I find cheap MF body of ebay 

[mrsfotografie]

Canon has done crazy stuff before, like completely abandon the FD mount in favor of EF / EOS. We'll see.

[Sporgon]

Canon has done crazy stuff before, like completely abandon the FD mount in favor of EF / EOS. We'll see.

I wouldn't say abandoning the FD mount was crazy; I'd say it was far sighted. The EOS system went on to become the most successful slr system in the world.

(But I know what you mean; not frightened to make dramatic changes ).

Personally I've got some big issues with digital MF. Whereas with film there was a significant difference in 'IQ' between 35mm and MF, and then again between MF and LF, now with the latest digital that difference has shrunk to virtually nothing. Yet the price difference ( of the system ) has increased ten fold. So a ten fold increase in cost for a ten fold reduction in 'IQ' differential. Now how much sense does that make ? How much commercial sense does it make ?

For those that weren't active in the days of film I can tell you that the latest FF digital is capable of producing images that are closer to 5x4 film, never mind medium format.

[Invertalon]

I think if Canon prices and specs the camera well enough this could be very interesting.

Just imagine if Canon releases a system with a zoom or two and two or three prime lenses... Two bodies, one for a pro-sumer and the other aimed at high end professional. The low end one, priced at $5000-7500 with a solid AF system, LCD, maybe 50MP, etc...

The high end could be priced at $12,500 or so and include all the bells and whistles... 150MP, wireless transmitter built in for flashes, wifi for studio use, HDMI, etc... Ultimate studio camera.

The lenses, maybe offer something equivalent to the EF 24-70 and 70-200 as far as zooms go. Then offer equiv. 35, 85 and 135 prime options. Lenses at $2500-4500 each price wise...

This would make a system 'in reach' for somebody who can offset the costs of switching by selling off their EF lenses and EF bodies.

If priced way too high, I don't see it being that worthwhile for Canon. I know the sensors will be pricey, but it still should be somewhat affordable. I would seriously consider switching to a two lens, MF setup IF the price was right (and feature set on the limited prosumer body).

I am just dreaming here, but imagine that IQ from a MF, high MP sensor... Would be stunning... Especially if they can give in some serious ISO range (100-51,200 native, ISO 50 and 102,400 and 204,800 pushed).

If they can do that with a nice updated sensor that rivals what the D800 can do, people will eat it up.

Just thinking out loud here though.