Why are people so sure that a 5d3 will be realised in 2012?

[Jona100]

Imo, Internet rumours have a unique ability to fire up confirmation bias with rocket fuel to turn conjecture into 'fact'.

Anybody else have doubts about a 2012 5d3? I mean there is no reason not for a 2013 date.

[handsomerob]

Yes, rumors should be taken with a grain of salt but there are actually a few indications for a 5DIII release sooner than later:

• product release cycle : if you consider the 3 year difference between the 5D and the 5DII, third one of the series should have been released in September 2011 already. 5DIII is maybe not completely ready yet, or they are waiting to see what Nikon will come up with. There have been a few natural disasters as well.
• competition offerings : Nikon D800 is about to (also a rumor...) be released, direct competitor of the 5DIII. Sony is also preparing their A900 successor (yet another rumor). So Canon would like to keep up with them, even if the 5DII will still is (and always be!!) an amazing camera.
• current 5DII prices : 5DII got a lot cheaper in the last few months, maybe Canon wants to sell all the stock before 5DIII is released?
• new cash cow : 5DIII will sell in huge numbers and Canon knows that. They would want to recover losses those disasters have caused asap

There are probably some more that I can't think of right now, or that I simply missed.

I'd like to hear why do you think it won't be released in 2012.

[ecka]

Why are people so sure that a 5d3 will be realised in 2012?

Because Canon needs our money!

[CowGummy]

2012 also is an Olympic Games year.
And more importantly - 2012 marks the 25 year anniversary of the EOS system.

I think this time round it's pretty safe to assume they will launch the 5DIII this coming year.

[Jona100]

Handsomerob - I think you make some good points, however I think the only real one that would force a 2012 date is a d800 for obvious reasons. The reason I am skeptical is that there is zero proof of a 2012 release date, not a jot. The question was more of an attempt to explore people's reasoning rather than anything else.

If the hypothesis of a 2012 date is true, what else must be true:
- d800 will definently be released in 2012 or
- 5d2 is selling very poorly or
- canon have publically committed to a 2012 release date

None of these have happened.

The price drop tends to elicit confirmation bias, a price drop in itself signifies nothing, it could be a sign of a price drop but then it could not, but people tend to only see what they want and expect to see and don't try and disprove their beliefs, in this case 'have canon dropped the 5d2 price before without a 5d3 release?', yes they have. As such unfortunately a price drop in the 5d2 suggests nothing.

The 5d3 rumours seem a very similar (just more drawn out) version of the iPhone 5 rumours of 2011; The more something is repeated the more truth is imputed to it, despite a lack of credibility of the source(s).

Personally I take the honest route about this in that "I don't know when it will be released".

[tron]

Releasing a 5DmkIII soon after the 1Dx release might hurt sales. However, we do not know the 5DmkIII specs yet (whether it
will use the same sensor with 1Dx or not)

Personally I do not care. I will continue using my 5DmkII... However I am interested in new lens releases

[Axilrod]

Handsomerob - I think you make some good points, however I think the only real one that would force a 2012 date is a d800 for obvious reasons. The reason I am skeptical is that there is zero proof of a 2012 release date, not a jot. The question was more of an attempt to explore people's reasoning rather than anything else.

If the hypothesis of a 2012 date is true, what else must be true:
- d800 will definently be released in 2012 or
- 5d2 is selling very poorly or
- canon have publically committed to a 2012 release date

None of these have happened.

The price drop tends to elicit confirmation bias, a price drop in itself signifies nothing, it could be a sign of a price drop but then it could not, but people tend to only see what they want and expect to see and don't try and disprove their beliefs, in this case 'have canon dropped the 5d2 price before without a 5d3 release?', yes they have. As such unfortunately a price drop in the 5d2 suggests nothing.

The 5d3 rumours seem a very similar (just more drawn out) version of the iPhone 5 rumours of 2011; The more something is repeated the more truth is imputed to it, despite a lack of credibility of the source(s).

Personally I take the honest route about this in that "I don't know when it will be released".

You're one of those super technical people aren't you?  Like if I were to casually say "Man I was running like the speed of light," you'd be one of those people that would be like, "OH OK, YEAH RIGHT MAN!, SO YOU WERE RUNNING 186,202.1083508132756082735 MILES PER HOUR?  YOURE AN IDIOT NO HUMAN COULD DO THAT OR THEIR SKIN WOULD MELT OFF BLAH BLAH BLAH!."  You police the internet waiting for someone to be incorrect so you can stick it to them right? 

Why are you being so damn cynical? Why are you so mad that some people think it will come out this year?  I THINK it will come out this year, and I think this because of all of the information I've received in regards to the matter.  I don't think anyone is saying "I'm 1000% sure the 5D will come out this year."  And you can say "I don't know when it's coming out" all you want, but it's apparent that your answer is "2013 or later."  But your answer is no better than anyone else's, just an educated  guess based on the information you have. 

The 5DIII is LONG overdue, you do realize the 5DII will be 4 YEARS OLD in August right?  That's ancient in the technology world.  Do you know how many customers Canon would lose if it waited until 2013 to release it?  Honestly I think if it weren't for all the natural disasters we would have heard an announcement already.

The reason I think its going to come out this year is because (aside from the reasons already stated) Canon Rumors has been saying it was going to be announced in Feb-Apr 2012 for over a year.  And from experience, when the guy CR2's something its more than likely going to happen. 

Oh and save my screen name and come back in April so I can say I told you so.

[Jona100]

Axilrod, no offence, but like I said confirmation bias, I never said it was a 2013 release date, I said I don't know. You have interpreted my response to your own pre-existing beliefs and ignored anything that didn't fit that.

My post was not an attempt at being a contrarian, it was simply an exploration of why people take conjecture as fact. More an exploration of critical thinking of the Internet than anything else.

Critical thinking to separate fact from fiction is not a problem is it, especially on a rumours site?

[lol]

If the hypothesis of a 2012 date is true, what else must be true:
...
- 5d2 is selling very poorly or

...

Personally I take the honest route about this in that "I don't know when it will be released".

The 5D2 doesn't have to be selling poorly. I think it is still selling well enough. But the bigger question is if those sales are PROFITABLE. As the price drops, it is going to squeeze profits and the only way to revive that is to bring out a new model and start the price cycle from the top again.

As for "I don't know when it will be released", remember this is a rumour site, which by definition isn't ever going to be 100%.

[K-amps]

2012 also is an Olympic Games year.
And more importantly - 2012 marks the 25 year anniversary of the EOS system.

I think this time round it's pretty safe to assume they will launch the 5DIII this coming year.

+1: Canon can get sentimental/nostalgic like the rest of us... I think we will see new bodies AND lenses in 2012.

[Isaac]

Yes, rumors should be taken with a grain of salt but there are actually a few indications for a 5DIII release sooner than later:

• product release cycle : if you consider the 3 year difference between the 5D and the 5DII, third one of the series should have been released in September 2011 already. 5DIII is maybe not completely ready yet, or they are waiting to see what Nikon will come up with. There have been a few natural disasters as well.
• competition offerings : Nikon D800 is about to (also a rumor...) be released, direct competitor of the 5DIII. Sony is also preparing their A900 successor (yet another rumor). So Canon would like to keep up with them, even if the 5DII will still is (and always be!!) an amazing camera.
• current 5DII prices : 5DII got a lot cheaper in the last few months, maybe Canon wants to sell all the stock before 5DIII is released?
• new cash cow : 5DIII will sell in huge numbers and Canon knows that. They would want to recover losses those disasters have caused asap

There are probably some more that I can't think of right now, or that I simply missed.

I'd like to hear why do you think it won't be released in 2012.

+1

Well said.

[Kernuak]

Northlight has a Canon timeline (I expect there's one here somewhe too, but this one was easier to find).

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/cameras/Canon_7dmk2.html#canon_timeline

While that doesn't show anything definite about release dates either, it does show that the 5D MkII and 7D are now the oldest Canon DSLRs. Even the 1D MkIV, which was released more recently, has technically been replaced by the 1D-X (although it is still available). I think there is a strong likelihood that at least the 5D MkII will be replaced next year. While it is still selling in high numbers, some aspects of the technology have long since been superceded and Canon will want to tap into the market of people wanting to upgrade from the MkII, which will boost sales over the current level of the MkII. With the upcoming olympics, Canon may also see a sales boost from replacing the 7D.

[K-amps]

...  , it does show that the 5D MkII and 7D are now the oldest Canon DSLRs. Even the 1D MkIV, which was released more recently, has technically been replaced by the 1D-X .

+1 Another Good enough reason   

And of the two, the 5d2 is even older... by several months. As a technology product, thats old... even automobiles have a 12 month cycle... at this rate, we will need to sync up 5d updates with home appliances or perhaps even furniture.

[thepancakeman]

... at this rate, we will need to sync up 5d updates with home appliances or perhaps even furniture.

I like it!   "Well, time to replace the 5d and the living room carpet again..."

[dilbert]

If the hypothesis of a 2012 date is true, what else must be true:
- d800 will definently be released in 2012 or
...
None of these have happened.

But the D700 is no longer for sale in Japan, so Nikon is without a camera to sell to people in its local market that want an affordable full-frame DSLR.

If Nikon were to go for much longer without a D700 replacement in Japan then I'm sure industry observers would start asking questions about what Nikon's commitment is.