POLL: The 2nd ff camera in 2014 will be...

[jrista]

I can't see the 5D3 being replaced in 2014. The current 5D3 is in a sweet spot for wedding and event photographers, a market place it dominates. 22 megapixel is sufficient for this without having huge files that are a pain to work with and combined with the AF and frame rates it is superior to the D800 in this application IMHO.
It would be nice to see a high megapixel version which sacrifices the 61 point AF, frame rates and video capabilities. A 6D2 or 5Ds (whatever you want to call it) could fill this void and sell alongside the current cameras at a 5D3 price without canibalising sales too much. At the 5D3 price point I don't think you could have high res AND high frame rates - that would be more of a 1DXs thing.

Unfortunately I don't think this will eventuate. Unless you are well marketed and established, Landscape photography is not that lucrative, whereas even average wedding photographers can make decent money. There are plenty of amazing landscapers out there that don't make a cent out of their photos. The 5D3 fills the wedding/event niche very nicely and no doubt Canon's marketing department knows it. If there is demand in the studio world for a high res low fps model, then Canon may exploit that. I can only hope!

AF is extremely important in studio photography as well, though. I can't imagine any studio camera, 5Ds III or 1Ds X, not getting Canon's top of the line AF system.

 

[Traktor]

AF is extremely important in studio photography as well, though. I can't imagine any studio camera, 5Ds III or 1Ds X, not getting Canon's top of the line AF system.

If thats the case then why do a lot of studios use Medium Format systems with average AF systems?
Don't get me wrong, I am not an expert on studio work but I would have thought an improved version of the highly praised 19 point system from the 7D will destroy any of the current Medium Format AF systems and be more than good enough? Happy for people in the know to point out studio exaqmples where this AF system would not be good enough.
If someone absolutely has to have the 61 point system with a high res sensor then presumably Canon would make them fork out the 7-9 grand for the hypothetical 1DXs.

I just hope there is room in the 2014 lineup for what the 5D2 was in 2009: high resolution at the expense of speed, at a (then) reasonable price. I like Canon cameras, I am used to the GUI, they fit nicely in my hand and the controls all feel right - but it looks as though a Sony A7R with an adapter may be the thing to tide me over.

 

[jrista]

AF is extremely important in studio photography as well, though. I can't imagine any studio camera, 5Ds III or 1Ds X, not getting Canon's top of the line AF system.

If thats the case then why do a lot of studios use Medium Format systems with average AF systems?
Don't get me wrong, I am not an expert on studio work but I would have thought an improved version of the highly praised 19 point system from the 7D will destroy any of the current Medium Format AF systems and be more than good enough? Happy for people in the know to point out studio exaqmples where this AF system would not be good enough.
If someone absolutely has to have the 61 point system with a high res sensor then presumably Canon would make them fork out the 7-9 grand for the hypothetical 1DXs.

I just hope there is room in the 2014 lineup for what the 5D2 was in 2009: high resolution at the expense of speed, at a (then) reasonable price. I like Canon cameras, I am used to the GUI, they fit nicely in my hand and the controls all feel right - but it looks as though a Sony A7R with an adapter may be the thing to tide me over.

In my peripheral experience with studio photography, you generally only need center point focus. You don't generally do off-centered compositions or anything like that. While the design of medium format AF systems may seem mediocre, they are very good at what they do. Similarly, the 61pt AF system has a vertical strip of five of the industries most powerful and accurate AF points, which would be a huge boon to studio work (especially in a 40-50 megapixel body).

I don't think the grand total number of AF points don't matter all that much for a studio camera, however those five ultra precision points would be pretty awesome. That said...why develop a new AF sensor with just those five, when you already have on that is ready to go, and has all the manufacturing lined up?