Canon EOS Rumors

1D Mark IV Release Date [CR1]

Canon Rumors
Canon Rumors
210 Comments
1 Min Read

Not in 2009
Received an email saying we wouldn’t see the new 1D4 until the new year.

Canon will announce the camera shortly after the 2010 Olympics. This would put the announcement into the first week of march.

The games will be used as the final testing of the camera. It’s apparently going to be quite vigorous. It’s Canon’s hope to have the camera in the hands of photographers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

CR’s Take
This sounds plausible. Having a world class sporting event in the winter to test the camera sounds like a great idea. The World Cup is the bigger event.

cr

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210 Comments

  • This makes sense! But boy the sales of the 1D Mark III will plummet in the meantime. Do I smell a price drop???

  • This would be around (slightly later than?) PMA. Three years after the 1DIII. So it sounds plausible at least.

  • Plausible, but missing the Olympics will cost them. On the other hand, announcing a camera is one, but ramping up production and sales will take some more time, so if they want to be in time for the olympics, they should have announced it around this time, or latest in November.
    Let’s see how much marketshare Nikon can grab because of this…

  • sounds plausible to me too.

    I wonder if there will be pilot/first run production bodies
    or preproduction bodies at the games?

    there will still be lot’s of white lenses at the games,
    more importantly…. Canon needs to hit a home run with the 1D4.

  • not really loosing…. as the same people that will buy it most probably will be using one and buy it after the olympics… the first lot of 1d4 will be for pro photo journalists anyway…

  • I don’t know if this means losing market shares to Nikon, but it’s a really good thing they’re testing it thoroughly this time. They can’t afford the same problems again. That would definetely mean losing market.

  • If it’s me I wouldn’t want to “test” a camera while at the Olympics. All of the events can be shot prior to the Olympics garnering the same test results as the actual games. I don’t doubt the story, but the Olympics, IMO, are too big for testing. I know if my reputation and paycheck were on the line I’d be using a known workhorse.

  • Maybe the biggest announcment in Canon history is that they will give credit to original MK lll owners toward the new camera.

  • So what is in the box then?!? How can a photocopier with direct print button be one of the “largest and most important launches in the company’s history” ???

  • Canons’ biggest single market for the 1D4 could hardly careless about the World Cup. The Winter Olympics, on the other hand, is very popular in the US.
    I can be a CR1 also……right?
    Ok then……..I predict this year……Canon has had well over a year to put the 1D4 together conceptually and actually……and they certainly have the technology.

  • You live in U.S.? :) Seriously, canon could’nt care less about world cup preferring the Winter Olympics? I guess, with only 1 billion people all over the world watching the world cup final..
    Luc

  • Well John, just make sure you keep an eye on the situation. We wouldn’t want it to spiral out of control, now would we?

  • The testers would be payed by Canon anyway, I guess. But it looks like a pretty tight schedule for being ready for the world cup anyway to me. And what if those “Tests” go wrong? Canon could only change the firmware if they want to be ready for the WC and again, more time wasted.
    Luc

  • Could make sense to have a gap between the 7D and the 1DIV, sales wise I mean. We just saw an example above, the guy will by a 7D in the meantime… how many will do it ? Why trying to kill these sales with THE (subjective) camera that people will still wait for. Anyway, time will tell.

    Maybe they are waiting for Digic V to be top notch…

    My 2 cents

  • Yea, tell them John. These rumors are serious, very, very serious. I mean, we are talking life and death serious. Who knows, maybe even direct print button serious.

  • Canon’s dslr division is a long way from committing suicide. the only people percieving the 1DMkIV’s release date to be a problem or delay are the people who somehow feel entitled to a camera release immediately following each CR1 rumor that hits the internet.

    The more consistent train of rumors has always stated the 1DMkIV would be released for the World Cup rather than the Winter Olympics. And why not? The Winter Olympics is big, not not that big. The World Cup is verifiably much larger and more crucial of a sporting event. You get to test out the cameras en masse in a challenging sporting environment, without missing out on seats to the Big Show this coming summer.

    There is no rule that camera companies should schedule their releases based on the desires of fans. We’d be at like 1DMkXXVI or something at this point if they did.

  • I’m sure there’d be plenty of pros chomping at the bit to test Canon’s latest and greatest. those who have been photographers for a long time realize the technological leap-frogging Canon and Nikon perform, and the 1DMkIII screw-up is not enough to assume all future Canons will roll off the line with major defects.

    I’d take the outside freak margin of something going wrong with a test unit, to be able to test it.

    Please note that any pro tester will be carrying a second unit; if the 1DMkIV breaks I honestly doubt you’d let yourself miss more than 10 seconds of action before you switched bodies.

  • haha haven’t you met anyone in marketing in your lifetime? or actually, haven’t you watched any TV commercials in the last 60 years or so? pretty much everything these days is supposed to be “life-changing” or “revolutionary”

    heck, at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if the announcement was Canon expanding into the toothbrush industry

  • It’s the Winter Olympics, you know, when it’s freezing COLD outside and most people are watching from home, and there’s not the money shots of the sidelines where you can see all the photographers like you can during the World Cup or Super Bowl XLIV – February 7, 2010

  • I think people miss the point of “testers.”

    There’s no tests going wrong, the camera is all but finished except possibly some firmware refinements. The camera is just getting tested by reviewers so they have their hands-on Previews ready for announcement day, or if it has video, so they have time to shoot and edit some sample videos.

  • totally different cameras and markets. I could see someone buying a 7D knowing that it will be the backup to their future 1DMkIV. I don’t think anyone who really really wants or needs a 1DMkIV thinking they will get the same functionality out of a 7D.

  • So… The MkIII had a focus problem that showed up when the temperature was higher and Canon plan to have their main user test at the *Winter* Olympics?

    Is there perhaps a flaw in this plan?

    Andrew

  • I certainly don’t have the numbers to back this up, but I would assume there are many more serious football/soccer matches around the world in a given week than there are American sporting events. At each of those serious matches there are pros shooting. Which means the world wide market for football/soccer shooting is much larger than it is for American football, baseball, and hockey combined.
    And lest we forget that Canon is a Japanese company. They have, what, 150 million people. So right in there own house is a market half the size of the US. And then there’s China (I think they’ve got a couple of people there) a short boat ride away who tend to love football/soccer as much as the next country.
    My long and belaboured point? The World Cup does matter from a marketing, global perspective. Lest we forget the larger world…

  • I do have the numbers.

    2002 Winter Olympics (IOC figures): 13 billion viewer hours.

    2002 World Cup (FIFA figures): 49.2 billion viewer hours.

    Do the math. the US is the world’s largest “single market” but the “whole rest of the world market” is a lot bigger

  • John Swan I can’t figure you out. You’re like a riddle inside an enigma wrapped around a turd. I don’t know if you’re serious, sarcastic or…wait for it…seriously sarcastic.

  • The 1DIV will be outstanding when ever it is released. I believe Canon want to get some 7D sales first and then build on the reputation with the 1D4.

    I pre ordered a 7D to hold me over as well. I will sell my 1DMK2 when I get a MK4. The 2 will make an outstanding pair.

    BTW, the “box” under the red blanket is the fastest pinhole camera ever produced.

  • I was playing Madden ’10 the other day and noticed in the game all the photogs on the sidelines have big white lenses. props to Canon for infecting the mind of gadget-minded gamers everywhere from an early age

  • If I read the post correctly… Canon isn’t missing the Olympics… it’s just not available to the public.

    Who knows what Canon have up their sleeves in “sponsoring” the press? ;D

  • I’m more talking of curiosity than fucntionality.

    For sure, no 1DIV is making shade to the 7D right now… making it the all new in wonder camera in the mean time.

  • Rox, not sure how many people out there spend $1800 on a camera out of sheer “curiosity”

    I think you’re seeing a lot of 30D and 40D owners that were unimpressed with the 50D’s “upgrades” in specs (there weren’t that many to speak of) finally seeing the camera they were hoping to get a generation ago.

    the real question is, will the 60D now be a huge disappointment again, as it will be tough for it to live up to the hype the 7D has put out. the people upgrading to the 60D in that case will pretty much solely be Rebel owners and some first-time buyers. even if it’s not a disappointment, Canon may still find that 60D sales were slaughtered by the release of the 7D

  • Dad, you blundering idiot….. stop insulting people! You got your GED a couple months ago, you can stop trying to act so cool all the time!

    By the way, they don’t teach you this at the adult learning center, so I’ll edumicate you. The 7D is a significant advancement over the 5d and 50d, in almost every way. So it would make sense that professionals would replace an aging tool with some new hotness!!

    PS. – Please don’t disgrace our family name by posting on here any more! Uncle Lynn is still pissed about all of the comments you are making on the NFL.com forums.

  • I think someone needs to explain what cr1 means. It means, don’t flip out because it’s not backed or has a solid source.

  • Well, it makes sense to me. Now many pro FF users with nice budgets are curious about the 7D and will probably go buy it, most of them will also buy the MK-IV when it’s released. Now these pros will go buy the 7D and after a few months will buy a MK-IV. But if they release the MK-IV now, they might not buy the 7D.

  • Sorry, my Dad doesn’t say a whole lot when he’s wearing his retainer. It rubs his gums raw. Oddly, this translates over to his typing too…. go figure.

  • We all know it’s a different league, if you read carefully, no one said it was the same thing or even close as the future 1D (where did you catch that in these post…) Just in case you’re not aware, the only thing that is sure here, is that you are posting on a rumor site… maybe I could explain to you what rumor means !?

  • My dad paid Radio Shack last month to modify his Sony Mavica to use two direct print buttons when he saw the new 7D might have two of them. One for the dot matrix in the office and one for the plotter in the basement. Although he did have to pay a lot extra to have them solder on a serial connector. He’s pretty eccentric.

  • I didn’t post that message. There is an intruder using my name. Could a mod please step in and confirm this?

  • Did you mention the most illustrious object of desire?

    I fear that the advent of the 1d4 will bring nothing but disappointment to those of us who crave MOAR!!!

  • I didn’t post that message. There is an intruder using my name. Could a mod please step in and confirm this? 

  • I didn’t post that message. There is an intruder using my name. Could a mod please step in and confirm this? &nbsp:

  • I often confuse my will with that of the rest of the world since my importance so greatly outweighs that of anyone else.

    Now, you cretins, let’s get back to some serious discussion about this serious rumor.

  • I don’t think the world cup is a bigger event than the olympics. I’d think the photographers would like to have more than a beta version at the olympics.

  • I’m seriously serious. And I’m wondering why you bothered adding the ‘o’ to the end of your name.

    Unless you’re an Italian tit.

  • I’m a fan of canon as much as anyone, but let’s be honest, Nikon’s offerings aren’t bad either. the D300/s and D700 are both still pretty awesome cameras … so I don’t think Nikon’s sweating bullets yet. in fact, they’re probably giddy because next year will be their year to unleash some goodies.

    which is a good thing. honestly if Nikon didn’t light a fire under Canon’re rear a bit with the D300+D700, we probably wouldn’t be getting the same 7D we ended up getting. thank goodness for competition.

  • Well, the Olympics are definitely more important in developed, first world countries – you know, places where people have the money and wherewithal to actually buy stuff.

    It’s somewhat akin to those who can afford ‘L’ glass; the creme de la creme so to speak rather than the hoi polloi, the rabble, that purchase inferior EF-S lenses.

  • Give him hell Jr.

    Too funny.

    For how creative photography can be, I’m constantly amazed of how many photographers can’t think outside the box.

  • Couldn’t be more wrong, Swanny. One only need look at the ratings to understand that. Quit talking out your a$$.

  • lulz. Canonrumors has taken a serious turn towards in the direction of 4chan methinks. Were even generating our own ridiculous memes……

  • That is serious business to be saying such unfunny cretinistic things! This is not The Game for you to play around and say such things.

    And all of you need to go back to south america with the poor people when you makes jokes about direct print buttons.

    Canon is going to change them to direct to facebook buttons anyways on the 1ds mk4, which is the only seriously camera for serious photos.

  • Still “candidate” anyway… I’m not in the industry but I can hardly imagine Canon being “commercially ready” for the world cup in june if they’ll still have only release candidates around in march… it means that the production won’t be started yet and they won’t have many cameras sold around just three months later. If the camera is not on the shelves by march, and not fully tested on the field in the following one-two months, Canon is gonna miss a lot of sales for the WC.

  • Oh get real, Timmy-boy. I only talk outta my a$$ so you’d have a chance of understanding what I’m saying.

  • I can’t really understand why lots of people seem to be pre ordering 7D’s, have their current cameras suddenly died? No customers have handled one yet and there may be question marks over noise and dynamic range, it just seems like a massive leap of faith to order a camera you haven’t tried yet.

  • There must be a few people in the world that need the speed and reach of a 18MB EF-S. They should have pre-ordered it.

    I know I dont need it and I am waiting. I am holding judgement/decision until production reviews have completed and hopefully a 60D option has been defined. …I have even considered the possibility that I will end up with the next rebel as my next camera.

    People have different needs.

    I see your point though. I am sure most people that have pre-ordered the 7D dont need it and are makeing a leap of faith.

  • Yup. There seem to be a lot of people leaping.

    I don’t need high ISO noise, sledgehammer noise reduction or reduced dynamic range. Not that the 7D will have those things, but it might.

  • I would have thought Canon would test the new Mark 4 at the Berlin athletic championships, Getty images had some pics of photographers and their gear, some cameras had black tape on their logos, but I guess those were normal Mark 3s.

  • Will the REAL John Swan please stand up?

    You guys are freekin killing me, man. I can’t read it at work anymore because I’m laughing too hard. I can’t hold it in…

  • Most good pro photographers don’t really piss and moan over high iso noise, dynamic range, and noise reduction though. They pretty much argue about handling, durability, Auto Focus, and lenses from what I’ve seen. So when a camera like the 7D comes along with SO many improvements, you have to ask yourself if that will make shooting ALL DAY more enjoyable and productive. I myself, would love to have a 7D. Especially if it’s high iso noise is more chroma based, like the preview shots I’ve seen. Basically the Canon equivalent to the Nikon D300, but a little better.

  • Canada and the US have very liberal return policies and consumer protection laws. If they don’t like the 7Ds after checking them out for a few days they can always return them for a full refund. No risk, really.

  • That’s not why (not to mention most of those return policies require an unopened box – they dont allow free try it out rentals on cameras like this). Canon finally came out with a APS-C camera worth upgrading too.

  • This is very believable. One person in this thread posted what I believe is the most significant sign that Canon is done w/ new camera releases this year: they’ve released their fall/winter catalogue.

    I also agree that Canon will sell large quantities of the 7D, and of course, the 5Dii will continue to sell very well.

  • I’ve said this before: I don’t give a rat’s *ss about photography. Just gimme those big fat L lenses to stroke!!

  • Got ‘L’ glass? It’s the only thing that truly turns me on. I’m getting stiff just thinkin’ about it.

  • What about MINE! I’m the REAL John Swan. Someone has been using my name like some unfunny cretin.

  • i think this deserves more than CR1, it has been predicted as early as Dec 2008 here:

    http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1032&message=30487289

    check that poster’s history he has correctly informaed about new products long before the rumour about them start to circulate, eg he said the 5DII will have movie mode months before its announcement.

    anyway the time left of 2009 makes the chances of a pro model before 2010 very slim.

  • Anyone pre-ordering this camera without first confirming the store’s return policy and pre-order cancellation policy should have their heads examined.

  • I checked with a psychic as well as Tarot cards, and a photographic astrologer, and the CR2 rumors will begin in December, CR3 rumors in late January, official announcement in Feb 2010.

  • well, not exactly. a lot of the issues that have come out on cameras previously revolve around minor glitches (like the shadow banding problem) that are fairly minor but cause quite a furor. I think these are the problems Canon is going to try to iron out during the winter olympics. they’re not going to be doing anything like tweaking sensors or frame rates at this point.

    the cameras should already be production cameras but Canon will have their software guys ready to jump on any glitching. they could already have the production run going even as the winter olympics are ongoing.

  • true on pretty much all counts.

    the things that will make shooting all day more enjoyable and productive?

    1. weathersealing

    2. built in flash commander

    ’nuff said

  • just because they’re testing at the Winter Olympics doesnt mean they weren’t testing at Berlin too. they’ve probably had various prototypes out for the past year.

  • if you’re talking about artistic “quality”, then none.

    if you’re talking about image “quality”, then plenty.

    back in the film days it didn’t matter what camera body you were using because it mattered what film you were using. sensors are now digital film, and it matters what sensor you’re using.

    even though some companies share sensor development, apparently each manufacturer ultimately likes to leave their own stamp on the camera’s image processing capabilities.

    sensors matter -> camera matters

    not as much as some people would make you believe, but not as little as others might say either

  • If may be true that there are too many people that dont spend enough time considering the artistic aspects of photography. If that is what you are suggesting, great, please tell us what you suggest as a solution.

    I do however get confused when people say equipment doesnt matter at all but are still willing to spend their time reviewing/ collecting equipment.

    (..I successfully resisted my urge to attack specific people or web pages…)

  • If it’s about sport events, the equipment does count. You have higher chances to get a winner shot with a fast response/fast and long burst camera (1D3, D3) than a slower one (and maybe not as much as reliable).

  • The rumors about the upcoming 1D are already starting to surface, here is what Canon is preparing for you:

  • Because the 7D was so much very well-received thanks to its combination of pro features + EF-S compatibiliy, Canon is considering making all of its cameras 1.6x crop factor, so that they all will take EF-S (except for 5D line maybe, which without FF would simply become xxD).

  • expect a unified 1.6x 1D camera and prepare your old 18-55 kit lens that will go with it, A triple digic-5 will remove any PF/CA, geometric distortion, … etc anything that has previously meant EF-S glass is somehow less than stellar.

  • The AA-filter is no longer needed for its original purpose in cameras of 15MP or more, but Canon decided to keep it because it helps in combating dust on sensor. any softening effect of it, can be easily mitigated by digital sharpening thanks to the advanced triple-digic5.

  • Canon is after a certain undefined infinite number of sensor pixels that are infinitesimally small “a pixel need not be wider than a photon in diameter, they believe”, and with that they are increasing the digic power of their cameras, eventully every pixel will have its own Digic. your photo’s will look like paintings, everything very smooth, as much noise as details.

  • Prices for the 1D MK III were near $3,000 at t end of August. They are up about $200 now, but will drop again.

  • I certainly would not want to use a test camera at the Olympics. If Canon has no confidence in it, I would not either. If this ie prototypes and want to try yet another fix??

  • But … Which viewers buy 1D MK IV Cameras. Odds are that the US is the single biggest market, and if they are not watching …

  • I don’t know where in my comment I stated that equipment doesn’t matter:

    “sensor matters -> camera matters”

    as Luc points out, features of cameras can play a deciding factor in whether or not you can get the shot in the first place. frame rate, weathersealing, flash equipment, all these alter your ability to get the shot you need, and so that equipment matters too.

    I don’t think you need to have a solution for the fact that there are too many people that don’t spend enough time considering the artistic aspects of photography.

    the people who are honestly interested in Photography care only a little bit about what you’re shooting with — they care about the impact of the photo. the people who enjoy Photography for the collecting tons of stuff aspect will only care a little about the beauty of the photo. that’s their decision, and not a problem.

  • none of these viewers buy 1DMkIV cameras. these are the viewers watching from home by TV.

    the guys that buy 1DMkIV cameras are actually sitting in the press box and on the sidelines at these events. the US and international media are all interested in covering both of these events.

    ultimately, no news organization is going to ditch their 1DMkIII’s for the new 1DMkIV’s just for a single sporting event.

    They do it because they think the new build quality and image quality is worth the investment in terms of protecting their bottom line (and because the cameras are deductible and depreciable business expense items).

    people on this forum think in terms of “oh cool new camera, me want because I am going on a safari”, but the AP, BBC, NYT think in terms of “what impact will investing in these cameras make on our photography corps over their 3-4 year renewal cycle”

  • the canon 1d mark3 has been a disaster. the auto focus system is a far cry from the 1d2n. they should hurry up and release something so we soon forget. never in my life have i been eyeing up nikon gear mroe than i have lately.

  • You know, if I had a dollar for every post I’ve read threatening to ditch Canon and jump to Nikon I might not be able to afford a 1Ds but I could at least afford a decent meal out for two.

    Just sayin’

  • “the canon 1d mark3 has been a disaster”

    actually the ”D” in Canon’s model naming (1Ds3, 5D2..etc) stands for ”Disaster”.

  • If you go to the Nikon forums you will see the same type of whining and complaining and threatening to switch to Canon.

    As for the D being a disaster…I wouldn’t think so…1ds3 is still doing well after those initial issues, the 5dii has been a fantastic success, and I imagine the 7d will sell extremely well.

  • do you guys think that the 7d may help the 1d mark III live a little longer which gives canon more space to breath?

  • The only person who’s certified right in my house is my wife. Although our daughters are also applying for certification.

  • well that goes without saying, but as far as psychics go, the Intergalactic Federation of Space Brothers & Sisters certifies psychics if they are right 100% of the time. If they drop below 100% right they have to reincarnate as Nikon photographers obsessed with taking pictures in the dark with low noise as punishment.

  • But that’s just the deal, Canon would have confidence in it. The people using would ahve other cameras with them, other cameras running. The winter olympics are an ideal torture test for sports cameras. hard conditions physically, backlit subjects is hard for AF, adn the competition is fierce. The point would be to get it in the hands of the elite sports shooters and impress them with it, also if there are any small glitches they will find them quickly (and have immediate technical response, as well as hordes of mk III’s and 7D’s on standby for them. This way a lot of the influential (not huge internet site influential like galbraith, but like “my friend who shoots th olympics…” influential can already give the camera a good rap, especially in terms of AF, where it is needed most.

  • Stop whining about that D, which means Digital, just to distinguish itself with Film cameras. The difference to make is only to call it D7 or 7D.

  • +1

    The nikonrumors site had an interesting graph of change in market share. Sony’s doing great, Nikon not bad, but Canon is losing some serious market share. Assuming Canon intends to defend its current share of the market, this can only mean good things for Canon users.

  • it seems to be on the server side, maybe your site its owned. Its a very common practice to inyect malicious code on the wp database to redirect traffic to other sites.

  • Do people seriously go back and forth between Canon and Nikon on a whim, just b/c there are rumors or the other brand has the current best body? If so, they are impulsive or have more money than they know what to do with. How can they give up their pro glass every time they do that?

    I am a Canon guy, but whatever you are, stick with your Canon or Nikon. The battle between the 2 companies only brings better products to the market more quickly and for better prices than if they were not so closely matched.

    I personally think that overall, Canon has had more home runs, so that’s why I went with them a long time ago. So, be patient, wait for reviews after it has been out a few months, buy the best one, and stick with it until another one comes out that is significantly better and has had clean reviews. After all, everyone wants to have the best, but let’s face the facts. Your previous “dream camera” did not suddenly become a worthless piece of garbage just because a new one came out. It probably just offers a little more versatility, functionality, or quality. I, like most of you, hope that the 1DS Mark IV will deliver in all areas. I need a good high res image producer to compliment the speed of my 1D Mark IIN.

  • not sure I agree on the Superbowl or Olympics actually being tiny events…lol.

    Superbowl is definitely a bigger venue than Olympics in the States, but not worldwide.

    World Cup is the big show though.

  • I hate this rumors.

    I just wanna know when i could buy de new 1d mark4

    I want to use it next to my 5d mark II. de mark 4 is for sport to replace my 40D. i don’t want to bbuy a mark III because i know that i want to have the new features on the mark 4… but wy do we have to wait so long…

  • Well thats annoying…put down my $5000 payment prior to Christmas. If I would have known it would be taking this long for the release, I would not have paid so early and would have had a lot of extra Christmas cash. Thumbs down.

  • When is this camera 1d Mark IV going to be finally released in the U.S? Does anyone have this info?

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