You are mixing hardware and firmware.
Actually no. Camera manufacturers have been copying code from its high end series to low end models for decades. You simply modify the code appropriately. Nothing a good firmware engineer coudn't do during a few shifts. Firmware code and algorithms are routine shared between platforms. No different than any electronic device. Engineers don't write code from scratch if they don't need to. That's a rule of coding. We simply copy and paste code and modify it.
Apple does upgrade its operating systems (= firmware) seamlessly and for free for all of its hardware going back for years. It does have some failings, like with iPhone batteries, but I far, far prefer it as a company to Canon in the way it treats its customers. I like Canon's products but not the way it treats its customers.
Not every one wants a "Major" feature update. AF is AF. AF tracking isn't Major. Its pretty basic and rudimentary. Update the damn AF algorithms, update the code. They have to do it anyway when they add new lenses. They haven't invented some NEW photography feature. They merely have to modify a few lines of code. Not land a lunar spaceship on Mars.
Five years? I wonder how long most people keep their cameras… That term is the typical period for depreciation (useful life) of small capital equipment. So perhaps ‘new stuff inside’ after 5 years is just right.
I was referring to a recent press release from Canon. Where they suggested that the R5's AF hardware was significantly different to complicate porting over the newer features of the R3/R6ii.
My last DSLR camera bodies lasted my 11 years each, a pair of 5DIII's. I never found a huge reason to side grade to a 5Dmk4 (although it clearnly was a superior camera). My cams were paid for and turning out great images and I had learned / trained myslef to use them instinctively. I do wonder if hte newer mirrirless cameras are built to the same quality and robustness of the older DSLR's. The 5DIII's were battle tanks.
And that's the reason why no Canon Camera ever recieved a firmaware update with increased features?
Of course, it is up to you to chose if you need/want/desire/think of that you need that new features.
And I wonder (as stated before):
Yes it's a great camera. I absolutely love to have to AF modes available at once: point AF on the Shutter button, full auto with face detect on the AF On button (that can take over the starting position of the point used on the shutter button)
Hard to say what percentage. But has been disappointing enough for such candid shots (while slowly walking) to opt for single-point or zone focusing with my new RF 28mm f2.8. You know, I had many cases of interrupted tracking of my subject which has been painful, but this is worse. Because despite having so many people in the frame it may focus so close or on infinity, which gives you a totally wrong focus zone.
