(1) EOS Boday + (3) New Lenses = New System?

[RedEye]

Here is my UFO from left field suggestion, similar in thought to the release of the Fuji X1 Pro model. If Canon is releasing a new DLSR, (or somekind of box with a shutter, or not) and as many as three new lenses to complement, could it be an entirely new system? Consider, how much would they open the envelope with a $5000 'semi-medium' format camera with a 45MMx30MM sized sensor. I don't think it's beyond the spectrum of possibilities if photon physics will continue to be the principle development problem and no medium formate will continue to be the ever cheaper stalking giant snatching up the premium dollars in the market as it continues to improve the technology and human interface aspects.

Many suggestions on the forum here are indicating that the 1DX is the flagship and then everthing else must be priced somewhere below. I'm suggesting that they have a $6000 flagship and then about a $4500-$5500 secondary high MP and unique sensor camera with a photo 'quality' only development focus and line - and expensive ultra high quality lenses to complement this territory of pricing. With this Canon will absolutly nip at the heals of Medium format, maybe take it down all together as word is Lecia and others will explore CMOS sensor solutions in place of the current CCD. After this product is released as the shooting star, consider then a T4i with 24MP and normally good crop and entry level processor, and a new 7D with a similar crop sensor and better processors.

I'm just trying to look at the whole picture... haha funny :0) I think that what's inescapable is that Medium format and the old DSLR guard are going to go head to head at somepoint and the first one to bridge the gap will probably net severl hundered million in first to market sales. Anyhow, feedback welcome.

Reddy

 

[Hillsilly]

Sure. Why not? Most medium format lines only have a handful of lenses, anyway.

BTW, no need for "expensive ultra high quality lenses". A bigger, better sensor would be enough. Reasonably priced lenses would be more than sufficient. And let's make it with an EF mount. That way, when regular EF lenses are attached, the camera reverts to a "full frame" camera. And when it detects EF-M (ie specific medium format lenses), you can use the whole sensor.

I'd also have it so that you can use the EF-M lenses on other Canon bodies (so you can take a 7D, for example, as a backup body). EF-S lenses aside, everything in the Canon line-up should be compatible with each other.

 

[RedEye]

[ And let's make it with an EF mount. That way, when regular EF lenses are attached, the camera reverts to a "full frame" camera.]

Nice idea, good use of crop technology.

 

[wickidwombat]

[ And let's make it with an EF mount. That way, when regular EF lenses are attached, the camera reverts to a "full frame" camera.]

Nice idea, good use of crop technology.

and can select APS-H or APS-C and increase Frame rate and burst rates

 

[Hillsilly]

It needs a square sensor, too. Make it 45x45, then if you want to crop down to 45x30, you can. Lets make it EF-S compatible, too.

I think you're spot on with the burst rate. It should increase as the crop size reduces. Want 7D performance, just flick the switch to APS-C.

If only Canon would let us design their cameras....

 

[wickidwombat]

If only Canon would let us design their cameras....

they should totally hire us...

 

[dr croubie]

Are 3 lenses enough to launch a new system? Who's old enough to have been around (and can remember) how many lenses they launched with the first EOS? (I can't find info anywhere, but didn't look hard enough).

I do like the idea of Medium Format, I hope they do it one day, but one major problem from your guys' suggestions is with the making it EF-compatible: not gonna happen. If you make the frame size bigger than 24mm tall, the mirror also has to be taller. If the mirror is taller, it needs more space to swing up. If it needs more space to swing up, the flange-distance needs to be more than the current 44.0mm of EF.
IE, you might be able to mount current EF-lenses on a MF body (vignetting/cropping issues aside), but you won't be able to focus to infinity.

Now, if the mirror was a fixed pellicle mirror that didn't swing up, then you might be able to keep the flange distance at 44.0mm and still mount EF-lenses and still focus to infinity (ef-s would be pushing it a bit). You might only get a frame 30mm tall, but it'd be enough to set it from the competition (Leica S2 is only 45*30, oder?).

Or just a medium-format MILC or rangefinder, that'd work.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Canon MEOS 1, with EF-M mount, 40MP 45*30mm sensor with a fixed pellicle-mirror...

 

[Hillsilly]

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Canon MEOS 1, with EF-M mount, 40MP 45*30mm sensor with a fixed pellicle-mirror...

Excellent thinking! Welcome to the design team!

In relation to the number of lenses...

My Mamiya 6 only has three lenses - 50mm, 75mm and 150mm.

The more popular Mamiya 7 has six lenses - 43mm, 50mm, 65mm, 80mm, 150mm and 210MM

There were about 20 potential lenses for my old Mamiya RB67, including tilt-shifts and macros.

 

[moreorless]

I could well see Canon looking to launch the 5D mk3/X with new versions of the 24-70, 35L and another quality lens(maybe a new UWA zoom? 17-40 mk2? 14-24?) to try and steal more of Nikon's thunder.

That said I'v thought for awhile that some form of medium format mirrorless might be worth them exploring. The benefits just seem more obvious than ASPC or FF to me, greater size savings both on the body and the lenses which will tend to be more in the wide/normal range that benefit from the reduced flange distance and less of a disadvanatge in AF performance since MF has never offered high performance there. I'd guess the potential for cost saving would be higher aswell given that your getting rid of a much larger OVF/Mirror.

 

[DavidRiesenberg]

Are 3 lenses enough to launch a new system? Who's old enough to have been around (and can remember) how many lenses they launched with the first EOS? (I can't find info anywhere, but didn't look hard enough).

Take a look at the bottom of this page: http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/Canon_new_lenses.html

It seems that in '87 there were 4 lenses at lunch and 13 by year's end.

 

[JR]

While all this is an interesting UFO theory, I highly doubt it would happen. There is too much pressure for Canon to stay competitive in its existing line-up and in particular for its cash cowe product like the 5D line that I beleive they will address this segment first.

Launching new EF lenses concurrent to the release on new EOS bodies is always good business, so I dont beleive they are doing it for medium format, but simply to get incremental lens sales from people buying their new bodies in 2012...