More Medium Format Talk [CR1]

[Canon Rumors]

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<p><strong>This and that

</strong>A few people have written in to confirm that Canon is exploring the possibilities of entering into the medium format segment.</p>
<p>We’re told nothing is imminent, but things could change quickly in the next few months. How long this has been going on is unknown, but it does sound like it’s a real possibility.</p>
<p>No one has confirmed or denied that Phase One is the medium format company in question.</p>
<p>Over at <a href="http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon_medium_format_2ff.html" target="_blank">NL</a>, they received an outright dismissal to the concept. However, a second source said Canon is going to be all in, and will announce in a big way some time in 2014.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[niklasR]

"No one has confirmed or denied that Phase One is the medium format company in question."

………
But mentioned? 8)

 

[deleteme]

Sorry, count me as a skeptic.

What seems to be driving this is a wishful thought or utterance by someone that then gets circulated in the net gaining "credibility" by repetition.
Someone at Canon can inadvertently stoke this fire by saying "We have no comment".

This is mother's milk conspiracy theorists that are convinced that this is a peek under the cloak of silence on Canon's MF plans and aspirations.

When they unveil their MF world domination tour I will then have egg on my face. Until then I call baloney.

 

[Ricku]

I hope they make it affordable.

How about it Canon? World's first affordable MF-system? That would get it to world dominating levels in no time.

The only reason to why me and everyone I know haven't bought MF, is because it is too damn expensive.

 

[Don Haines]

When they unveil their MF world domination tour I will then have egg on my face. Until then I call baloney.

Egg.... Baloney.... Now I'm hungry for the truth.... Or at least a fried egg and bologna sandwich....

 

[rumorzmonger]

It would be really great if Canon could purchase the tooling, etc., from Kyocera (or whoever it now belongs to) and revive the Contax 645 line...

 

[LetTheRightLensIn]

Interesting. One known source says 100% no way and the other known source says 100% yes in a big way. ;D

 

[CarlTN]

Someone was just dying to put the Canon logo onto a MF body weren't they?

 

[chauncey]

Price is a minor concern...an inability to utilize my collection of canon glass has been a deciding factor.

 

[Aaron78]

Interesting. One known source says 100% no way and the other known source says 100% yes in a big way. ;D

So,i guess it's 50/50 ;D

 

[RGomezPhotos]

This WILL happen. I'm no expert, but the writing is on the wall IMO...

Canon needs growth. But where? Mirrorless, DSLR is flat. Point & Shoot is declining due to Smartphones. I think FF is going to get MUCH cheaper because APS-C will compete with smartphones. It's only a matter of time when you'll be able to set aperture/iso and shutter on them. So I think APS-C will die in 5 years. There is growth potential in video as more photographers are adding it to their arsenal. But that won't be too much growth really.

Medium Format. But how to do this is tricky. They can buy let's say Phase One. And that will show growth. But only for a year or two because they are only buying already established customers. Or, they can build their own MF cam and gear. This is a longer term, better route. But there is an initial big investment in infrastructure. So they may show a loss the first 2 - 3 years to recoup cost, but may have good growth for another 7 - 10 years. Taking Phase One/Hasselblad/Leica users. This is of course, that their option is equally if not better and with a good cost savings. Which I think Canon would do. I would say they would price one around $15k. That could kill the big MF players.

 

[Zv]

This WILL happen. I'm no expert, but the writing is on the wall IMO...

Canon needs growth. But where? Mirrorless, DSLR is flat. Point & Shoot is declining due to Smartphones. I think FF is going to get MUCH cheaper because APS-C will compete with smartphones. It's only a matter of time when you'll be able to set aperture/iso and shutter on them. So I think APS-C will die in 5 years. There is growth potential in video as more photographers are adding it to their arsenal. But that won't be too much growth really.

Medium Format. But how to do this is tricky. They can buy let's say Phase One. And that will show growth. But only for a year or two because they are only buying already established customers. Or, they can build their own MF cam and gear. This is a longer term, better route. But there is an initial big investment in infrastructure. So they may show a loss the first 2 - 3 years to recoup cost, but may have good growth for another 7 - 10 years. Taking Phase One/Hasselblad/Leica users. This is of course, that their option is equally if not better and with a good cost savings. Which I think Canon would do. I would say they would price one around $15k. That could kill the big MF players.

I doubt sports photographers will be using smartphones to cover field sports or wildlife photographers for that matter. APS-C is here to stay for a while. It offers a high quality vs low price option to those who need the reach. Yeah you can can use 1DX but that isn't always an option for regular people who still want fast fps. And then there's the photographers who have an APS-C body as a back up. Just look at the anticipation and demand for the 7D2.

This MF thing will likely amount to nothing. I don't thing there is a huge market for it right now though perhaps Canon are making some enquiries about it as part of their R&D program. Why wouldn't they? They are in the imaging business after all and need to explore all their options.

 

[CarlMillerPhoto]

This WILL happen. I'm no expert, but the writing is on the wall IMO...

Canon needs growth. But where? Mirrorless, DSLR is flat. Point & Shoot is declining due to Smartphones. I think FF is going to get MUCH cheaper because APS-C will compete with smartphones. It's only a matter of time when you'll be able to set aperture/iso and shutter on them. So I think APS-C will die in 5 years. There is growth potential in video as more photographers are adding it to their arsenal. But that won't be too much growth really.

Medium Format. But how to do this is tricky. They can buy let's say Phase One. And that will show growth. But only for a year or two because they are only buying already established customers. Or, they can build their own MF cam and gear. This is a longer term, better route. But there is an initial big investment in infrastructure. So they may show a loss the first 2 - 3 years to recoup cost, but may have good growth for another 7 - 10 years. Taking Phase One/Hasselblad/Leica users. This is of course, that their option is equally if not better and with a good cost savings. Which I think Canon would do. I would say they would price one around $15k. That could kill the big MF players.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[alexanderferdinand]

I would like to see an affordable MF system by Canon.
I had several analog, and loved the IQ.
BUT: its a very small market, making profit would be difficult.
And Canon is not known for non- profit thinking or strategy.

 

[Pitbullo]

If Canon buys a MF company, it could be to get their tech and patents, and still have the option to make a MF camera relatively cheap (dont need to develop everything in house, as lenses) if they want to get into that market later on.

 

[pedro]

ignoring all other posts, this would at least give justice to all the fuzz about big MP sensors being tested in the wild...So, is the new 1Ds the 1MF?

 

[Bruce75]

idea from metabones?

Maybe we are going to have the equivalent of metabones to adapt L lenses on the canon medium format...

 

[dryanparker]

ignoring all other posts, this would at least give justice to all the fuzz about big MP sensors being tested in the wild...So, is the new 1Ds the 1MF?

My question is why they'd really need to go all-in MF when they can produce pretty solid FF technology approaching 50MP? That alone may pull a few MF users back to FF.

I hope they make it affordable.

How about it Canon? World's first affordable MF-system? That would get it to world dominating levels in no time.

The only reason to why me and everyone I know haven't bought MF, is because it is too damn expensive.

Well, as long as you don't mind shooting film (like me), the Mamiya RZ67 system is quite affordable these days. Honestly though, flawless RZ gear sells for about 15-20% of its original cost. Pretty incredible.

 

[Caps18]

It all depends on how many MP they can get into a FF camera compared to how many MP they could get into a MF camera.

I'm sure there are professional phtographers that will buy a high megapixel Canon MF, especially if they can use some of their existing lenses.

 

[Chuck Alaimo]

ignoring all other posts, this would at least give justice to all the fuzz about big MP sensors being tested in the wild...So, is the new 1Ds the 1MF?

My question is why they'd really need to go all-in MF when they can produce pretty solid FF technology approaching 50MP? That alone may pull a few MF users back to FF.

I hope they make it affordable.

How about it Canon? World's first affordable MF-system? That would get it to world dominating levels in no time.

The only reason to why me and everyone I know haven't bought MF, is because it is too damn expensive.

Well, as long as you don't mind shooting film (like me), the Mamiya RZ67 system is quite affordable these days. Honestly though, flawless RZ gear sells for about 15-20% of its original cost. Pretty incredible.

Maybe they plan on bigger for MF ---something in the 80mp range. If they can make 50 mp FF sensors, then 80 + mp mf sensors shouldn't be that hard.

My guess is it will be pricey though. If the 1 series bodies are in the 7k range, then expect over 10k - more $$$ than pentax, but less than hasslebad/leica...just guessing