The 5D Mark III Megapixel Count? [CR2]

[LetTheRightLensIn]

It's likely they can promise a 2-stop improvement in ISO noise (jpg, of course) just based on gapless microlenses and Digic5.  They'll have to do more than that, I think.  My contention is that they will offer improvements, but still maintain differentiation from the 1D X (better than they did with 5DII/1DsIII).  So, if it's a 21-24 MP camera, they can bump the AF up a bit (a bit under the 7D), and they'll keep the frame rate low. If it's 30+ MP, less of an AF bump (or none) and an even lower frame rate.

They appear to be heading that way, but I have to say I won't bite. And I think it'll create quite an uproar in the forums.

[LetTheRightLensIn]

one thing that always makes me laugh are people who write they will switch brands when company "XY" does not include feature "ZX" into a new product.

nobody will notice it in the end results and you immediately notice these people are more gearheads then photographer.

and really who cares if joe from utah decides to switch to nikon because he thinks he needs 36 MP to make good pictures?  NOBODY!   

i am with neuro.... i don´t think the 36 MP for the nikon are written in stone.

Funny that people always say it's just gear heads who never shoot or do anything. I've shot national sporting events and all over the US and the world as have many others who I've seen slammed as gear head pixel peepers. Maybe some people actually have real reasons for wanting ZX.

[LetTheRightLensIn]

If 1080p requires an 8.3MP sensor, then 4K video requires a 33.2MP sensor.

1080P only requires a 2MP sensor.

Everyone saying this is forgetting that these are Bayer sensors. If you read the white paper canon released on the C300 it explains what they are doing with the 8MP sensor to deliver 1080p.

[dilbert]

4K video has 4 times as much video data as 1080p (4K is approximately twice the width and height of 1080p).

If 1080p requires an 8.3MP sensor, then 4K video requires a 33.2MP sensor.

What?

1080p is 1920 x 1080 (~2.1 MP)

Full Aperture 4K is 4096 × 3112 (~12.7 MP).
QFHD is 3840 x 2160 (~8.3 MP).

Where are your numbers coming from?

Canon's whitepaper on the C300.

You're forgetting that we refer to a camera's megapixel count as the combined total of all pixel sites (RGGB) as a result of the Bayer matrix, whereas the "video resolution" (if you want to call it that), is counted as being one per RGB combination.

If the C300 was a DSLR, it would be a 8.3MP DSLR.

It will be interesting to compare a "still" from the C300 with the 20D as both are roughly the same sensor size and pixel count. That'll give us a good indication of how far Canon have come with sensor technology for DR and noise in the last 6 or 7 years.

I suppose that leaves us to wonder, will the Canon C-DSLR have a full-frame 32MP sensor or a Super-35 (and thus closer to APS-C) 32MP sensor.

[dilbert]

If 1080p requires an 8.3MP sensor, then 4K video requires a 33.2MP sensor.

1080P only requires a 2MP sensor.

Sure, but then that requires logic to de-Bayer the sensor pixel matrix and Canon have chosen to not go that route with the C300. It therefore stands to reason that Canon won't go down that path for the "C" DSLR.

[Rank_90]

Just seen this on North Light Images:

Jan 23rd We're told that Canon won't be going for a high MP FF DSLR until that 4k 'concept' camera is a reality (with a 30+MP sensor to get 'cleaner' 4k video)

We're also getting slightly more detailed suggestions for the 5D2 replacement, with several pointing to 22MP (or virtually the same as in the 5D2), and one adding 61 Focus points (41 Cross) same as 1D X, 100-25600 Basic ISO, 6 fps - Suggested date was March 7th. Sounds a bit close to the 1D X which still won't have shipped by then)... but I'm still getting MP estimates from 18 to 40. Nothing solid yet from any known sources, so extra pinches of salt to be taken ;-)

[Picsfor]

Just seen this on North Light Images:

Jan 23rd We're told that Canon won't be going for a high MP FF DSLR until that 4k 'concept' camera is a reality (with a 30+MP sensor to get 'cleaner' 4k video)

We're also getting slightly more detailed suggestions for the 5D2 replacement, with several pointing to 22MP (or virtually the same as in the 5D2), and one adding 61 Focus points (41 Cross) same as 1D X, 100-25600 Basic ISO, 6 fps - Suggested date was March 7th. Sounds a bit close to the 1D X which still won't have shipped by then)... but I'm still getting MP estimates from 18 to 40. Nothing solid yet from any known sources, so extra pinches of salt to be taken ;-)

I could go with 22mp, 6fps and 25600 working ISO. But 1DX focusing - not a hope. First off it would require that the 5D3 is equipped with 2 processors (Digic 5 & Digic 4 for AF), and this would create exactly the same issues has occured with the 5D2 and 1Ds3. Also - it would eliminate the need for a 7D!

That said, if Canon were going to merge those 2 lines, then maybe i could see it happening, but it wouldn't have a large buffer like the 1 series, deferring to the new high speed CF for data storage like the D4. Also, do not think it would have the Ethernet port or any improved video functionality.

And of course, it would be called a 5DX 

[Rank_90]

What I'm looking for from the 5D Mrk III and the most important things for me are:

5D Mk II Focus issue resolved
Can crop without being worried about loss of quality so good MP's 22 will do me.
Decent fps more than or equal to the 7D.
The 24-70 f/2.8L II would be the kit lense.
And the price wouldnt be so high that I have to sell my Mrs kidney on ebay to pay for it. 

[K-amps]

....I could go with 22mp, 6fps and 25600 working ISO. But 1DX focusing - not a hope. First off it would require that the 5D3 is equipped with 2 processors (Digic 5 & Digic 4 for AF), and this would create exactly the same issues has occured with the 5D2 and 1Ds3. Also - it would eliminate the need for a 7D!...

Is that really a problem for Canon? They could be better off selling us FF bodies, and thus have us spend multiples  more in EF lenses. Whoever needs crop would get crop anyway... so unless Canon kills the 7D, partial cannibalizing to a higher end product should be good for them.

I agree with you on the AF... it won't be as good as the 1dx or even close, but it needs to be much better than the current set-up. Canon has pride.... it won't make the same mistake that got one of it's better known models a bad AF rep.

[traveller]

I don't buy this argument that an improved 5D MkII replacement would obviate the need for the 7D.  The market for the 7D should be purchasing this camera either for what it offers in terms of 'more pixels on target', or for its lower price.  If potential 5D series owners are buying a 7D because they are put off by the 5D's poorer AF and slow speed, then surely Canon are losing potential profits?

If the 5D MkII replacement is to stay low(er) megapixel, Canon will need to do something to sell it over buying a second hand 5D MkII and I don't think that an extra stop or so of ISO will cut the mustard.  It would make sense to me to ramp up the AF specs and continuous burst rate, as there are many other ways to 'hobble' the camera for pros.  Even having the 1D X's AF system would not guarantee 1D X levels of performance, especially if the '5D MkIII' didn't have the same processing power.  They could also make the buffer smaller than the 1D X (like Nikon did with the D7000), which would also put off serious sports shooters.  Next, they could remove dual memory card and ethernet support, further discouraging professionals. 

Professionals who make their living from their photographs are generally quite conservative, they rely on their camera behaving exactly as they expect it to in order to get their shots.  If they've owned a number of 1-series cameras it is unlikely that they would easily be persuaded to 'trade down'.  Whilst most of us are feeling the squeeze economically, a new camera body every four years is not exactly the largest business expense for those that truly make their living from photography. 

[K-amps]

And the price wouldnt be so high that I have to sell my Mrs kidney on ebay to pay for it.

+1 

[K-amps]

BCN best selling cameras for Dec 2011 is in:  Canon has top 3 slots. No wonder they are putting their feet up on their desks instead of announcing the 5diii... Canon are you listening?

http://bcnranking.jp/category/subcategory_0008.html

(Site is in Japanese)

[neuroanatomist]

5D Mk II Focus issue resolved
Can crop without being worried about loss of quality so good MP's 22 will do me.
Decent fps more than or equal to the 7D.
The 24-70 f/2.8L II would be the kit lense.
And the price wouldnt be so high that I have to sell my Mrs kidney on ebay to pay for it.

Let's see...a FF camera with pro-level AF and 8 or more fps, more MP than the 1D X, and selling for 1/3 the price of the 1D X?  And a partridge in a pear tree.

[K-amps]

Let's see...a FF camera with pro-level AF and 8 or more fps, more MP than the 1D X, and selling for 1/3 the price of the 1D X?  And a partridge in a pear tree.

 

[Rank_90]

Just cant wait to see what they unveil. Dont let me down Canon I dont like the Nikon logo. Red Rules, Yellow = yuck.