Canon to Target The GH4 With New DSLR Type? [CR2]

[Canon Rumors]

<p>We’re told that Canon will be directly targeting the Panansonic GH4 at NAB 2015 in Las Vegas this spring. The new camera will  have a 1″ sensor, shoot 4K and will be very portable, which sounds like <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2014/12/more-on-the-coming-4k-camcorder-cr2/" target="_blank">similar specs to an upcoming camcorder</a>. This little camera will have a removable viewfinder and grip and will most likely be small enough to be mounted to drones and other like devices.</p>
<p>The term “a different style DSLR” was used when describing this camera, but I’m not sure what sort of lens mount the camera would have, EF? EF-S? EF-M? Something new? A DSLR with a 1″ sensor? <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2014/12/opinion-does-cinema-eos-mark-the-end-of-high-spec-canon-dslr-video/" target="_blank">I wrote a few days ago that I didn’t think Canon would care much about this market</a>, which I guess was wrong, as this comes from a solid source. I do hold on to the idea that the professional cinema market being where growth is going to come from. We’re hoping for more information in the coming weeks.</p>
<p><em>More to come…</em></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[preppyak]

Well, the 1" sensor also means they are also competing with the digital bolex, the BMCC and BMPCC, and a handful of other strong, cheap options. Find it hard to believe they'll drop ProRes or RAW support into their camera like the other manufacturers have...so, it'll be interesting to see what Canon does to not make the product dead on arrival.

 

[Ivar]

Canon has done its best over some years for now to convince everybody that wait no big surprises.
Yeah, shines at something, yet lacks at the same time putting the end product in the middle of other offerings rather than on top.

See what has happened to once famous brand name. No one-product will make this up what took years to build and abandon.

 

[powershot2012]

Boring Canon yet again. Stop targeting start innovating!

First they targeted the Sony RX100 III and just like the Canon G1X II, missed the target.

Now targeting Panasonic....jeeez!!

<p>We’re told that Canon will be directly targeting the Panansonic GH4 at NAB 2015 in Las Vegas this spring. The new camera will have a 1″ sensor, shoot 4K and will be very portable, which sounds like <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2014/12/more-on-the-coming-4k-camcorder-cr2/" target="_blank">similar specs to an upcoming camcorder</a>. This little camera will have a removable viewfinder and grip and will most likely be small enough to be mounted to drones and other like devices.</p>
<p>The term “a different style DSLR” was used when describing this camera, but I’m not sure what sort of lens mount the camera would have, EF? EF-S? EF-M? Something new? A DSLR with a 1″ sensor? <a href="http://www.canonrumors.com/2014/12/opinion-does-cinema-eos-mark-the-end-of-high-spec-canon-dslr-video/" target="_blank">I wrote a few days ago that I didn’t think Canon would care much about this market</a>, which I guess was wrong, as this comes from a solid source. I do hold on to the idea that the professional cinema market being where growth is going to come from. We’re hoping for more information in the coming weeks.</p>
<p><em>More to come…</em></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[Orangutan]

Boring Canon yet again.

Boring and profitable Canon yet again.

Stop targeting start innovating!

Innovating is financially risky: Sony has been "innovating" themselves into near-bankruptcy for years.

Of course I love to see innovation, it's simply not financially reasonable for a profitable company like Canon. Why market a lot of "innovative" products when your competitors are willing to find the (financial) duds for you?

 

[gsealy]

It's interesting. It seems that Canon is responding to both the 4K push and the fact that in general DSLR sales are falling off. They have to expand their presence and market reach to remain profitable.

It says mounted to a drone? That seems to hit at the GoPro products. That market is wild right now as evidenced by GoPro's stock.

The thing that I will want to know is how and where the 4K files will be stored. 4K files consume storage like crazy.

 

[hachu21]

1" sensor? Are you sure of the swapable lens? Does 1" sensor + EF/EF-S makes any sense?
Even with EF-M (all STM for video), the 22m f/2 turn into a 60mm equiv. lens and the 18-55mm turns into a 50-150mm
More reasonably (Canon style), a link with this?
RX10 and FZ1000 are somehow "a different style DSLRs" ;D

 

[antonioleandro]

How come this new camera will have 4K video and the 7D II does not?

I would understand if Canon released updated versions of the C line cameras with 4K video, or maybe (hopefully) 5D IV with 4K video. But cutting 4K of the (almost) flagship DSLRs and putting it in a small sensor camera? I don´t understand.

 

[PureClassA]

So far as targeting vs. innovating. Take Wendys for example. They let others like McDonalds do the location research and put up a store, then Wendys will follow behind to take market share without having spent the capital to figure out where to go. At least they used to years ago. Been very successful for them.

That said I understand the frustration that Canon should be the leader, and I agree. If they are going after a video DSLR, I'd rather see them hit the Sony A7s with a great full frame and insane low light capability with a true Canon Log HDMI output to go a Shogun or the sort. I know, probably wishful thinking. ... and no, not a 1DC for $10k. IF Sony can produce a monster like the A7s for $2500, so can Canon.

 

[hoodlum]

1" sensor? Are you sure of the swapable lens? Does 1" sensor + EF/EF-S makes any sense?
Even with EF-M (all STM for video), the 22m f/2 turn into a 60mm equiv. lens and the 18-55mm turns into a 50-150mm
More reasonably (Canon style), a link with this?
RX10 and FZ1000 are somehow "a different style DSLRs" ;D

That link is what I was thinking of too. But that would make it more a competitor with the FZ1000 which supports 4k video, not the GH4 which has a larger sensor and interchangeable lenses.

 

[Bob Howland]

1" sensor? Are you sure of the swapable lens? Does 1" sensor + EF/EF-S makes any sense?
Even with EF-M (all STM for video), the 22m f/2 turn into a 60mm equiv. lens and the 18-55mm turns into a 50-150mm

+1, something doesn't mesh here. If the camera is supposed to compete with the GH4, then the sensor would probably have to be larger than 1". The camera being described sounds more like competition for the GoPro. If it uses a 1" sensor, then a new lens mount or maybe a fixed lens would probably be required.

My guess: The sensor size is APS-C not 1" and the camera is tiny but still uses an M-mount. Canon simultaneously introduces a couple pancake primes in appropriate focal lengths.

 

[roxics]

If it has a 1" senor and no interchangable lenses, then it isn't a competitor to the GH4.

 

[andrewflo]

If it has a 1" senor and no interchangable lenses, then it isn't a competitor to the GH4.

This is very true. I got excited by the headlines but immediately disappointed when I read 1" sensor.

But think of the positive: If Canon is getting closer to the 4K consumer level territory, then maybe they can introduce solid 1080p in their DSLRs or even 4k by 2020.

 

[hoodlum]

If it has a 1" senor and no interchangable lenses, then it isn't a competitor to the GH4.

This is very true. I got excited by the headlines but immediately disappointed when I read 1" sensor.

But think of the positive: If Canon is getting closer to the 4K consumer level territory, then maybe they can introduce solid 1080p in their DSLRs or even 4k by 2020.

The difference is that Canon is getting the 1" sensor from Sony while the DSLR sensors are in-house. Canon's sensor design is still the limiting factor as you need faster readout for 4k video and this is where Sony still has a large lead.

What Canon is able to do with the 1" sensor has no bearing on what they can do with their DSLRs.

 

[slclick]

That mockup is fuglier than my EOS 5!

 

[Jane]

With a couple of pros I know touting the virtues of micro 4/3 (MFT), I bought a Lumix GH4 and a set of fine lenses this past summer. It's a great camera, light, flexible and produces great results. I used it almost exclusively on a 3-week trip in Central Asia and I only had one lens at the time. What's more it's fun to use. Many of us are tired of lugging around the big heavy gear. Now, I still have lots of Canon high-end gear. Can't beat it for wildlife but Lumix is catching up. When we go on wildlife trips, the GH4 is my husband's video camera and serves as my backup. When we go on non-wildlife trips, the GH4 system is my primary (we don't usually shoot video of non-moving subjects). Canon has a way to go to catch Lumix. I hope they join the MFT group. The more competition the better.

 

[baervan]

This baffles me, why they dont use a system they already have, meaning the EOS-M?

Make a high end mirrorless with the M system, you have already lenses for it. Make more! Pancakes! Fast zooms!

Plus it's the cinematic format that pros really really like. Slap a 4k here, zebras there, good codecs and its done. Swively screen and videographers will like it more. EVF and you'll win over also photo takers.

Without mentioning that there is a squadron of canon uses drooling for a pro mirrorless and just cant let go of their gear for a gh4 or a sony AND you make current M users happy too.

Again, baffled. C'mon.

 

[ahsanford]

This baffles me, why they dont use a system they already have, meaning the EOS-M?

Make a high end mirrorless with the M system, you have already lenses for it. Make more! Pancakes! Fast zooms!

Plus it's the cinematic format that pros really really like. Slap a 4k here, zebras there, good codecs and its done. Swively screen and videographers will like it more. EVF and you'll win over also photo takers.

Without mentioning that there is a squadron of canon uses drooling for a pro mirrorless and just cant let go of their gear for a gh4 or a sony AND you make current M users happy too.

Again, baffled. C'mon.

This is a total yawn until I saw "1 inch sensor" and a thought that this might have a lens mount.

If Canon offers a fourth lens mount (when EF-M is currently starving for high quality glass) for what appears to be some smash-and-grab 4K video response crossed with a drone opportunity, I will formally give up on ever owning a Canon mirrorless setup.

Agree that EOS-M and more EF-M lenses are a better solution than what this rumor proposes. If not that, surely a fixed (non-modular) zoom lens is the easier way to go here, right?

- A

 

[CarlMillerPhoto]

If it has a 1" senor and no interchangable lenses, then it isn't a competitor to the GH4.

Exactly. It appears that Canon is trying to sneak into good standing with budget filmmakers by associating itself with Panasonic and the GH4. However, it's exceedingly easy for Canon to compete with the GH4 - all they need to do is make the 1Dc $2,000...but they won't.

 

[ahsanford]

Exactly. It appears that Canon is trying to sneak into good standing with budget filmmakers by associating itself with Panasonic and the GH4. However, it's exceedingly easy for Canon to compete with the GH4 - all they need to do is make the 1Dc $2,000...but they won't.

I'm a stills guy, but videographers keep telling me that there's far more to a video rig than if 4K is / isn't included. Surely Canon's stubbornness to not offer 4K at lower price points comes with other features/codecs/options that the GH4 doesn't have, right? (And, no: a high price is not a feature )

I recognize Canon's being foolish here, but is it a 'reasonable market segmentation' foolishness or a flat out Rome-is-burning / 'The Emperor is wearing no clothes' sort of foolishness? Is this like Mercedes deciding to never sell an affordable car but at least what they sell is really well built, or has Honda (Panasonic) simply made a comprehensively better car (GH4) for less money?

I appreciate how disruptive the GH4 is, but is it truly better than its higher price point competition?

- A