No 5D Mark III on Novemeber 3 [CR2]

[JonJT]

<sarcasm>

Well... Looks like everyone will just have to settle and deal with that piece of junk mkII... :

< / sarcasm>


C'mon folks.... who are you kidding? (directed at anyone that feels that this delay is apocalypse as we know it)
I mean, I want the 5DmkIII released just as bad as the next guy... considering that my jump to FF has been directly linked to this release. But even I can't complain. I have an amazingly adequate 7D + glass that let's me do anything from helping me create the professional work that pays my bills, to letting me get completely creative in trying to express and capture what it is my brain is processing.

I understand that the current mkII could be improved on in a number aspects, but I don't believe that the camera is holding anyone back from being able to work or play at full potential. Need faster AF? rent/acquire a 7D. Need more FPS, MP annnd need to stay Full Frame? Rent/use/borrow/purchase a 1D. Besides, if a job demands that much performance from equipment - the pay should more than cover the small investment on equipment AND your upgrade once the DSLR's are announced.

I'm done venting. It's just I feel that sometimes people lose track of the fact that a camera is a tool. Like a pencil, photoshop, phillips head screw drivers.. etc. A tool helps us carry out a task... but it is impossible for the task to be carried out without the tool being in skilled hands. In other words, I can't wait for that release, but until then... I will be just fine with what I got.

It isn't a tool for all of us. To use an apt analogy, an SLR could be the weekend race car to some of us. We dont need it's utility, we have it because we want it, even if none of us will ever drive it like Schumacher, Stewart or Andretti. Indeed, I think shooting is more fun than speculating about future releases but, like many other toys (or tools, depending on who you talk to), we sometimes just want a new one.

 

[UncleFester]

^ an evf will ruin the 5d line evf flickr and are unprofessional I prefer optical viewfinders but thats just me.

and you are not alone

Things heard in the past
1) Film is better, digital is unprofessional
2) Auto focus is unprofessional. Manual focus in what the Pros do.
3) Electronic aperture is for amateurs. I need the aperture ring.

Now, most people now will not go back to film, want their 90 point autofocus and all the exposure features that electronic aperture offer. And SOON, people will think the same thing about EVFs. They will say, how did I ever live without it? Why? Because EVFs allows a much broader range of useable lenses, much better judging of exposure and from what I understand (I might be wrong) a faster burst speed (like the new Sonys) which is only possible without the mirror.

Ironically, I shoot video so I don't use auto focus, I would prefer a manual aperture ring for more universal adaption. But I want an EVF because of benefits mentioned above, especially quicker snap judgement of exposure without relying so much on the meter when doing things Manual, which is what I almost always do.

Just like all other aspects of a modern camera, electronics will over take the OVF and in hindsight, people will embrace it and learn to like it.

Agreed. I don't see DSLR viewfinders getting as bright as film any time soon.

 

[macfly]

I guess I'll suprise everyone by saying I think the live screen combined with auto focus is absolutely my favorite thing in photography. Sure for work I have to use the viewfinder, because the H2 & EOS 1Ds are made that way, but to me live screen autofocus is the biggest revolution in image making to come out of digital. It why I love digi-snap cameas, and can't wait for the NEX-7.

 

[Flake]

I predict a lot of bankrupt camera stores. Digital imaging brought a huge windfall to camera makers & stores, the fact that the technology was in its infancy meant that new models were released yearly and there was a huge image quality gain by buying the latest model, however as the technology has matured the gains have become smaller & smaller, until now there's the posibility that manufacturers blinded by the megapixel war produce a camera which is actually worse than its predecessor, this actually happened in the Canon G10.

I do wonder if a Canon 5D MkIII will produce such noticeable image quality improvements that it'll be a 'must have' purchase. Product features are of course another area where manufacturers can improve, and the 5D MkII badly needs these, particularly autofocus, there's a reason to buy even if image quality doesn't improve.

But the big two manufacturers have not released a new camera for quite some time, Nikons 'compact' J1/V1 has not been well received and there's not likely to be queues at the counter for product, so camera shops are just ticking over, I've noticed fewer staff, and often fewer customers than the staff! It makes me wonder how long they can afford to keep the doors open when the customers are all keeping their cash saved up in anticipation of a new model.

Generally Canon announcements have followed Nikons, I don't expect them to announce the 5D MkIII until there's a D800 on the horizon, and there's no sign of that either!

 

[aldvan]

I fully agree with Flake. My first digital was an S20. Coming from a Pentax LX with a rich set of lenses, the quality of those digital images was, per se, awful, but it was easy to understand the huge potential of the new technology. So, I was very happy to trade the S20, in few months, for a G1. In less than a year a new exchange was largely justified by the improved quality performed by a Nikon 5700. Next step, the following year, was a 350D, that allowed me to reenter the reflex+lenses range. It needed three years for the next step, 50D and one year for a 5D MkII and four L lenses. Each of these steps was justified by the big improvement in IQ. Recently I added a 1Ds MkIII, but, I have to say, that didn't mean a great improvement. I suppose, so, that the improvement of digital photography is reaching its top, until something really revolutionary will come.
If I have a look at great photographers portfolio, I can't imagine that the quality of their images could in any way improved by a new camera. Not enough, at least, to justify the anxiety manifested by many people in this forum to get a new model, since I can't believe that the market and R&D are ready, in these difficult times, for a real revolution, able to radically improve the quality of our pictures.
And a large depreciation of our equipment does not seem so desirable, if not for a real and substantial progress.
Different conclusion, obviously, if for us a new camera is something to treat ourselves like it would be for a new toy, but this is something quite different from a real and useful tool...

 

[MazV-L]

Back to the more interesting rumor on 5Dmk2 replacement, there is no way we would find out if there is one coming. The moment is it actually known when a replacement is coming, virtually all 5dmk2 sales will stop, except those buyers with no interest in cameras which, lets face it, if your spending $$$$$ on 5dmk2 + bits, your generally going to research the internet a bit (or for most of us, a hell of a lot, infact WAy to much)

This is a very strange time given the devastation earlier this year to stock and manufacturing plants. Its not long ago they only just got back up to full production. So we know before July/Aug there was no stock of the 5Dmk2, so there was no stock pile to try and reduce. We are in September and there are price cuts, so this isnt to shift a massive stock pile of 5Dmk2's.
So obviously they are making 5dmk2 again, if they announces a replacement now, available for Feb 2012, who do you think is going to buy a 5dmk2? Thats right, the people i mentioned above and there arnt many of them at this price point.

How about the camera-savvy people who can't afford the 5D ii at its current price range, ( so of course can't afford the 5Diii when its released) but are hoping to snap it up at a bargain price when the 5Diii is announced?!

 

[K-amps]

Back to the more interesting rumor on 5Dmk2 replacement, there is no way we would find out if there is one coming. The moment is it actually known when a replacement is coming, virtually all 5dmk2 sales will stop, except those buyers with no interest in cameras which, lets face it, if your spending $$$$$ on 5dmk2 + bits, your generally going to research the internet a bit (or for most of us, a hell of a lot, infact WAy to much)

This is a very strange time given the devastation earlier this year to stock and manufacturing plants. Its not long ago they only just got back up to full production. So we know before July/Aug there was no stock of the 5Dmk2, so there was no stock pile to try and reduce. We are in September and there are price cuts, so this isnt to shift a massive stock pile of 5Dmk2's.
So obviously they are making 5dmk2 again, if they announces a replacement now, available for Feb 2012, who do you think is going to buy a 5dmk2? Thats right, the people i mentioned above and there arnt many of them at this price point.

How about the camera-savvy people who can't afford the 5D ii at its current price range, ( so of course can't afford the 5Diii when its released) but are hoping to snap it up at a bargain price when the 5Diii is announced?!

Get a 5d classic. It still has excellent image quality. One will run you about $900-$1200 on feebay depending on condition, use it for a few months, then sell it when the 5d3 comes... and not lose more than $50-100 Thats the price of a 1 day rental! Why wait?

 

[geohsia]

To be honest I don't think Canon will release the Mark III until Nikon releases the D700s/D800.

 

[Lucky5]

Now here is something interesting. There is a major dealer in Germany (ac-foto.com) who gives a full refund on 5DII’s that will be bought right now, if Canon announces a 5DIII before 31st. of December. So when the company wouldn`t be sure, that there will be no announcement, I don’t think they would offer that deal.

 

[Meh]

Now here is something interesting. There is a major dealer in Germany (ac-foto.com) who gives a full refund on 5DII’s that will be bought right now, if Canon announces a 5DIII before 31st. of December. So when the company wouldn`t be sure, that there will be no announcement, I don’t think they would offer that deal.

I wouldn't say they'd to be certain... it's a calculated risk to drive sales in the here and now. Does the fine print of that guarantee say the customer has to buy a 5D3 by a certain date to get the refund of the 5D2?

If so, they're being very clever and it might be it might be win win for them... if the 5D3 isn't announced they just made a sale If it does get announced, they'd take back the 5D2 and sell a 5D3 which would, at full introduction pricing, have a higher profit for the store than the current price of 5D2. They'd probably be able to sell 5D2 used for not much less than new and overall they make money in either scenario.

 

[Lucky5]

Yes, I thought so too. It is pretty clever marketing.

The date is from now on until the 31st. of December. And it says you get a full refund and there is no word that you have to buy a 5DIII afterwards. So I think they are pretty sure.

I am really tempted to buy one because of the FF-sensor. But my current cams (1DIII and 7D) are fast and have a pretty good AF and I use it, too. I propably will miss the AF. Therefore I still wait. But like i said, it is very tempting, expecially since the price is that low.

 

[Isaac]

The heart says buy a 5D2 now.

The brain says wait and buy a 5D3 soon.

Simple: I like to follow my brain.

 

[HurtinMinorKey]

The heart says buy a 5D2 now.

The brain says wait and buy a 5D3 soon.

Simple: I like to follow my brain.

MY brain tells you to wait till the 5Dmkiii comes out, and then buy a mkii at a steep discount.

 

[pedro]

remember your first date with that mindblowing you lady who's now your wife? we enjoyed the waiting...that's just what I do now 8)

 

[Isaac]

The heart says buy a 5D2 now.

The brain says wait and buy a 5D3 soon.

Simple: I like to follow my brain.

MY brain tells you to wait till the 5Dmkiii comes out, and then buy a mkii at a steep discount.

That is exactly why I don't follow your brain.

 

[luele]

And what its when the 5-series is stopped - and it's a 6 or 4? He writes thats the 5MKII succsessor is announced till 31.12. He doesn't write that it's the Mark III.

 

[unfocused]

Why do people participate in stupid threads like this?

Dilbert, you are on a roll today.

Seriously though, I'm kind of with you on this one.

 

[htjunkie]

What is it with people posting in threads they're not interested in? Feel the need to chastise much?

I am in that boat: I am thinking, seriously, about reselling my 7D + my 2 EF-S lenses to fund the purchase of a 5D, be it II or III, with the 24-105 kit lens.

I will be buying it tomorrow night if nothing gets announced tomorrow (Oct 26). I just want to make sure they're not gonna release the 5DIII right after I spent 3 grand on a camera. If you can't understand that, you're an idiot.

However, for what it's worth, I am expecting that the 5D mkIII with be moved up the line into the low FPS studio/landscape camera that the 1Ds used to be. And therefore, the mere updated model of the 5DII will probably cost more in the $3500-$4000 range. And to keep an "entry-level" FF camera, they'll release a 6D or similar body, that will be the equivalent of the 60D in FF: smaller/lighter/cheaper body, weird ergonomics, swivel screen, AND no more than 18MP. I don't want any of these. The 5DII is a tried and true perfect camera for me (I do mostly landscape and portraits).

 

[te4o]

Anyone that is going to wait for a 5D3 doesn't need a 5D2 now and won't need a 5D3 when it is released.

If you need a 5D series camera then you're going to buy one, irrespective of what may or may not come. If you had a 2 year old 5D2 and it went under the wheel of your car, are you going to wait until the 5D3 comes out before you buy a new one? No, you're going to buy one "tomorrow". If you're a hobbyist and you're toying around with an APS-C and wondering if you should go FF or not, then whether or not a 5D3 appears tomorrow or in 12 months is not going to make any difference to your decision making process. If you're a hobbyist and you need a FF camera then you'll buy. If you don't need it, you won't.

The best suggestions are that a 5D series camera will be released in September 2012. That's 11 months away and probably at least a 12 month wait before a 5D3 is in your hands.

Anyone that can wait that long for a camera that doesn't exist obviously doesn't need it.

C'mon dilbert, don't be so hard on us. Stating the obvious is always hard to swallow, I know. But to put it the otehrwayround - if you don't earn a living with photo/video, you don't need more than your phone-cam to document your life along, or a P&S at most.
I am a hobbyist, yes, hobbyists just GROW in their needs, they don't surf the edge of technology like the 1D guys do. I'm are not in NEED for a FF it but it will add to my expression of art undoubtedly. If you live outside the big ebay pools of US and Europe it is difficult to buy&sell second hand. So, I am careful were I to spend my money on a FF with all the issues about to be improved (I borrowed one several times - my Carl Zeiss lenses deliver magnificent results there, so precise that I can see where the sensor technology from 2007 is struggling to cope with - dark areas are just messy, without colour detail, 800 ISO and above is just not looking nice enough, I don't want to go on here).
I am not going to feed the shops on a week-old bread. That's for ducks...

 

[Loswr]

Why do people participate in stupid threads like this?

Indeed. Ironic, isn't it. Ba dum bum.