The 5D3 has been well known as the ultimate all-around camera. At its release, it was not good at everything, but great at everything. Great IQ, speed, AF, low-light, resolution, robustness, top-notch video...To beat it required spending a lot more money.
This trait of the 5D line is impossible to maintain due to the technological landscape and competition from Nikon.
The standard for video is now 4K. Canon must implement 4K in the 5D4. In my view, it is an absolute certainty they will because they cannot wait til 2018 to do it on the 5D Mark V. Or would they switch to a yearly update cycle? Unlikely.
There has always been the megapixel race, but it really escalated with Nikon's 36mp D800 series. These high megapixel sensors create challenges for camera speed.
Speaking of speed. 10fps is no longer limited to flagship models. This is another game changer.
For the 5D4 to follow the 5D3 proportionately and without having sibling models, it would need these specs:
4K video, a sensor of at least 36mp, 8 fps, 1.5-2 more stops of native ISO, at least another stop of dynamic range minimum, and at least the 65 AF point system with better tracking, dual pixel and whatever other advancements they could make.
That is asking a lot from one body that isn't a flagship.
Instead, Canon is saving the 5D4 from having to be the great do all DSLR by specializing -
The 5DS is the still shooters dream. High resolution. Something to answer Nikon with. Be the high MP kings again.
The 7D2 is the speed demon for sports.
What does that leave?
The 5D4 will be the king of DSLR video and low-light. It's the only place it can really stick out and shine. It will have to be big on video. Both video quality, features and AF. And again be the best at high ISO than any other DSLR. If it fails at either, it will not be as successful as the 5D3 was in its era. The 5D4 is appearing to be slated to being the ultimate event camera.
It will also need to be better on dynamic range. This is going to be the critical spec for a lot of people. Because in reality, ISO of 12,800 or over on any camera just doesn't have acceptable quality. Yes, it's getting cleaner, but cleaner isn't CLEAN. Thus, people are looking for better dynamic range at more realistic ISO that they commonly shoot at.
Also, to keep pace on speed - it will need to be 8fps. 5D2 was 4, 5D3 was 6...this needs to be 8 to be a good leap in feature. 7 is nice, but not impressive.
I'm hoping Canon follows all the way through on this specialization, because with a high MP camera with very high resolution, the fastest sports camera short of a 1 series, the 5D4 should be best at video and low light. It is fact neither the 7D2 nor the 5DS (based on the rumored ISO specs) are good low-light cameras. And it is hard to imagine Canon letting up on that.
Those are the 2 last pieces of the product lineup - video and low-light. And these two things do go hand in hand.
This trait of the 5D line is impossible to maintain due to the technological landscape and competition from Nikon.
The standard for video is now 4K. Canon must implement 4K in the 5D4. In my view, it is an absolute certainty they will because they cannot wait til 2018 to do it on the 5D Mark V. Or would they switch to a yearly update cycle? Unlikely.
There has always been the megapixel race, but it really escalated with Nikon's 36mp D800 series. These high megapixel sensors create challenges for camera speed.
Speaking of speed. 10fps is no longer limited to flagship models. This is another game changer.
For the 5D4 to follow the 5D3 proportionately and without having sibling models, it would need these specs:
4K video, a sensor of at least 36mp, 8 fps, 1.5-2 more stops of native ISO, at least another stop of dynamic range minimum, and at least the 65 AF point system with better tracking, dual pixel and whatever other advancements they could make.
That is asking a lot from one body that isn't a flagship.
Instead, Canon is saving the 5D4 from having to be the great do all DSLR by specializing -
The 5DS is the still shooters dream. High resolution. Something to answer Nikon with. Be the high MP kings again.
The 7D2 is the speed demon for sports.
What does that leave?
The 5D4 will be the king of DSLR video and low-light. It's the only place it can really stick out and shine. It will have to be big on video. Both video quality, features and AF. And again be the best at high ISO than any other DSLR. If it fails at either, it will not be as successful as the 5D3 was in its era. The 5D4 is appearing to be slated to being the ultimate event camera.
It will also need to be better on dynamic range. This is going to be the critical spec for a lot of people. Because in reality, ISO of 12,800 or over on any camera just doesn't have acceptable quality. Yes, it's getting cleaner, but cleaner isn't CLEAN. Thus, people are looking for better dynamic range at more realistic ISO that they commonly shoot at.
Also, to keep pace on speed - it will need to be 8fps. 5D2 was 4, 5D3 was 6...this needs to be 8 to be a good leap in feature. 7 is nice, but not impressive.
I'm hoping Canon follows all the way through on this specialization, because with a high MP camera with very high resolution, the fastest sports camera short of a 1 series, the 5D4 should be best at video and low light. It is fact neither the 7D2 nor the 5DS (based on the rumored ISO specs) are good low-light cameras. And it is hard to imagine Canon letting up on that.
Those are the 2 last pieces of the product lineup - video and low-light. And these two things do go hand in hand.
