Canon's bad marketing - big mistake

[VirtualRain]

Let me put it in another way.  If you're in for a new computer and you buy the latest core i7, nobody finds that strange. Everybody finds it normal that you buy the latest technology.  When you're in for a new camera and you want to buy a 36 Mp one, because that is the latest technology too, everybody on the Canon forums finds that strange.  Why is that ?  It is in the human nature to want the newest products at the latest technology.  Otherwise we would all still be listening to cassettes and LP's.  I might agree that 36 Mp is not for everyone, nor for every day use.  But at least people should have a choice.  Now many people simply don't have that choice because they're stuck with either Canon or Nikon.  As an all time Canon user I too find it very hard to admit, but the detail in (some of) the D800 pics is just off the scale.

It's about balance.  You can't just look at one spec like sensor resolution or CPU speed when you buy a product... it's the system as a whole and how it performs for you that matters.  Just because I can buy a dual CPU 12-Core monster Mac Pro, doesn't mean I can come even close to utilizing that power.

Of course, everyone needs to look at what's holding their photography back and decide who offers the better solution to that bottleneck.  For me, it's keeper rate on focus and the noise in low light that's a problem for me.  Although more MP might help, that's not the best and only answer.

If you've been on the cusp of breaking out as a fashion or landscape photographer that can make good money, but your current 20MP camera is holding you back, then maybe an affordable 36MP body is just what you need. 

At any rate, I don't think it's Canon's marketing that's the problem.  It's just your needs are not in Canon's target market.  But mine happen to be.

[TrumpetPower!]

Let me put it in another way.  If you're in for a new computer and you buy the latest core i7, nobody finds that strange. Everybody finds it normal that you buy the latest technology.  When you're in for a new camera and you want to buy a 36 Mp one, because that is the latest technology too, everybody on the Canon forums finds that strange.  Why is that ?

Because that's not a very good analogy.

Imagine instead we're discussing sports cars. Do you buy the one with the biggest engine displacement, or the one that has the highest top speed / shortest time on the course?

Megapickles are important, yes, but mostly in the sense that you're not going to make it through the race without at least so many. But, just as your sports car is going to get smoked on the track if you've got lousy breaks and so-so steering, your high-megapickle camera is going to give you worse pictures at the wedding / sports arena / wildlife preserve than the low-megapickle one if it can't achieve good focus, if it's got a slow framerate, etc., etc., etc.

Now, if you're just doing straight-line quarter-mile drag racing, the car with the biggest engine displacement is probably the one to bet on. Similarly, if you're just doing studio photography with studio lighting and what-not, the high-megapickle camera is probably the one you want. But do keep in mind that the top-fuel dragster will laugh at your silly hotrod, as will the medium and large format cameras at your puny SLR. But did you ever try to pop down to the market for a bag of groceries in a top-fuel dragster, or take party snapshots with an 8" x 10" view camera?

Horses for courses, and all that.

Cheers,

b&

[XanuFoto]

Canon has a solid installed base who has invested in lense for the Canon mount. All they needed was give them a solid option with the MKIII and they have delivered. So they might loose 5% to Nikon but they will also gain alot of wedding photographers who will come over. So they got their strategy right.

[neuroanatomist]

Let me put it in another way.  If you're in for a new computer and you buy the latest core i7, nobody finds that strange. Everybody finds it normal that you buy the latest technology.  When you're in for a new camera and you want to buy a 36 Mp one, because that is the latest technology too, everybody on the Canon forums finds that strange.  Why is that ?  It is in the human nature to want the newest products at the latest technology.

So, you're suggesting the 5DIII is outdated technology?  Ouch.  On what do you base that assertion?  The D800 has a slower frame rate, and the 5DIII offers a 50% higher specification there.  What's outdated now?

Let's look further at your analogy.  Which is better - a Core i7 with a slower clock speed and an HDD, or a Core i5 with a faster clock speed, more RAM, and an SSD?  Different systems perform better in different applications, but for many needs the i5 in that configuration will perform better, 'outdated' or not.  Now...with a card full of 36 MP images to process, you're going to need that Core i7 and tons of RAM and the SSD...and you'll probably still need a pot to brew some tea while you wait...

[Hage]

Ever wondered that it might actually be fun watching your high res pics on a high def television ?

[XanuFoto]

Like this comment from Neil Van Neikerk


I do agree. We’re at a point where, if you can’t make your images work with any of the top choices … Nikon D3s / Nikon D4 / Nikon D800 / Canon 5D Mark III / Canon 1D-x … then photography might not be your *thing*.

Really, the only limitation now is our own creativity. We’ve NEVER had it this good before in the entire history of photography.

Neil vN

[neuroanatomist]

Ever wondered that it might actually be fun watching your high res pics on a high def television ?

Lol - sure, it would.  Break out that fancy Core i7 computer of yours and Google "1080p resolution".  Then open the calculator widget and multiply 1920 x 1080.  Do you honestly think there's a difference downsampling from 36 MP vs. 22 MP to view images on a 2 MP display.   

The phrase, "Quit while you're behind," keeps popping into my head, for some reason.

[DavidRiesenberg]

You analogy works for the computer business as well. I am a Windows user, I use a bunch of software packages that are Windows only. It would be strange if I wanted to convert entirely to OSX. I would have to buy not only new hardware but also new software and actually learn it. Doesn't make sense even if there are a few features that I do not have access to right now.

As for the D800, yes the details are pretty amazing but are for meaningless out of context. If we're talking about huge prints and excessive cropping syndrome, yes, the extra MPs play an important role. But if we'll be honest for a moment, the vast majority of work ends up mostly in digital form on the web. A year from now when there will be plenty of D800s and 5D3s on the market, I challenge you to browse the top images on flickr or 500px and guess which camera was used in each photo. You won't be able to tell.

[Tcapp]

The ONLY advantage I can think of for 36 MP as a wedding photographer is to satisfy all those brides who think they know as much about photography as you do and demand to know what camera you shoot with. If you tell them you shoot with the 5d3 (Just got mine, LOVE it so far!) at 22 MP and another photographer tells her that they shoot with the D800 at 36MP, the bride might make the misinformed decision to go with the other guy.

Hopefully this won't be a problem, but I just moved to the Portland area, and I've never had so many brides ask what camera I use as I've had in the past few weeks. Its crazy!

And, personally, I find it kind of offensive to judge me by my equipment rather than my ability. (Even though I shoot with some of the best stuff! Go figure!)

[VirtualRain]

The ONLY advantage I can think of for 36 MP as a wedding photographer is to satisfy all those brides who think they know as much about photography as you do and demand to know what camera you shoot with. If you tell them you shoot with the 5d3 (Just got mine, LOVE it so far!) at 22 MP and another photographer tells her that they shoot with the D800 at 36MP, the bride might make the misinformed decision to go with the other guy.

Hopefully this won't be a problem, but I just moved to the Portland area, and I've never had so many brides ask what camera I use as I've had in the past few weeks. Its crazy!

And, personally, I find it kind of offensive to judge me by my equipment rather than my ability. (Even though I shoot with some of the best stuff! Go figure!)

Crazy!  But perhaps they're just wanting to make sure you're not going to show up with a Rebel or a Point and shoot.  If they're fussy about what prosumer DSLR you're using, then they're probably more trouble than they're worth!

[neuroanatomist]

Ok, I'm going to apologize for the threadjack, but I'll use the fact that I really don't see this thread as going anywhere useful as an excuse.

...I've never had so many brides ask what camera I use as I've had in the past few weeks. Its crazy!

And, personally, I find it kind of offensive to judge me by my equipment rather than my ability.

This was posted here a while back, seems relevant to your concerns:

Wedding Photography	Small | Large

[Tcapp]

The ONLY advantage I can think of for 36 MP as a wedding photographer is to satisfy all those brides who think they know as much about photography as you do and demand to know what camera you shoot with. If you tell them you shoot with the 5d3 (Just got mine, LOVE it so far!) at 22 MP and another photographer tells her that they shoot with the D800 at 36MP, the bride might make the misinformed decision to go with the other guy.

Hopefully this won't be a problem, but I just moved to the Portland area, and I've never had so many brides ask what camera I use as I've had in the past few weeks. Its crazy!

And, personally, I find it kind of offensive to judge me by my equipment rather than my ability. (Even though I shoot with some of the best stuff! Go figure!)

Crazy!  But perhaps they're just wanting to make sure you're not going to show up with a Rebel or a Point and shoot.  If they're fussy about what prosumer DSLR you're using, then they're probably more trouble than they're worth!

Well, I would hope you can tell by looking at my photos that I don't uses a point and shoot!! I'd be pretty impressed with a photographer who was skilled enough to do what I do with a PS camera!

I might not be a Canon "explorer of light" ambassador, but I like to think my photos are pretty good!

[Tcapp]

Ok, I'm going to apologize for the threadjack, but I'll use the fact that I really don't see this thread as going anywhere useful as an excuse.

...I've never had so many brides ask what camera I use as I've had in the past few weeks. Its crazy!

And, personally, I find it kind of offensive to judge me by my equipment rather than my ability.

This was posted here a while back, seems relevant to your concerns:

Wedding Photography

I actually just printed a contract out for her, I thought I was meeting with a real bride! JK.
Some people are almost that bad! But I've been pretty lucky so far to have some amazing brides. Some can be difficult, but most are amazing. I keep about half of my clients as friends after the wedding!

[kdsand]

The ONLY advantage I can think of for 36 MP as a wedding photographer is to satisfy all those brides who think they know as much about photography as you do and demand to know what camera you shoot with. If you tell them you shoot with the 5d3 (Just got mine, LOVE it so far!) at 22 MP and another photographer tells her that they shoot with the D800 at 36MP, the bride might make the misinformed decision to go with the other guy.

Hopefully this won't be a problem, but I just moved to the Portland area, and I've never had so many brides ask what camera I use as I've had in the past few weeks. Its crazy!

And, personally, I find it kind of offensive to judge me by my equipment rather than my ability. (Even though I shoot with some of the best stuff! Go figure!)

Its how you use it that matters ....... walked right into that one.

I'm sure you know brides are often just a little unreasonable.   

[Tcapp]

[/quote]

I'm sure you know brides are often just a little unreasonable.   
[/quote]

True, but like I said, the majority of them are awesome. Anyway, it beats working for a corporate slave-driver.