5D Replacement

[danw]

With the announcement of the 50D, any thoughts on impact to a 5D replacement?

Does this suggest that we probably won't see a new 5D anytime soon?

Seems unlikely that Canon would roll out 2 new bodies in the same release cycle - or is there any precendent for that?

[Bob Atkins]

I don't think you can read a lot into it. It certainly doesn't mean that there isn't a 5D replacement coming. The world's largest and most important Photo Show is Photokina, which takes place every other year in Germany. This year it starts at the end of September and manufacturers have been known to hold off annoucements until close to that show.

So I 'd still say that it's more likely that Canon will release an update of the 5D this fall than that they won't, but nothing is certain. Despite all the rumors of a 5D MkII (3D or 7D), there have been no "hard" leaks like the EOS 50D leak that came from the Canon website in China last week. All we have is speculation with no hard evidence to back it up.

[chrisb]

I'm waiting to the replacement to come out, but has anyone thought of this feature just like Nikon did with their D700 and D3, where you could attach (Nikon's FX and DX) an (Canon lens format)  EF or EF-S lens and the camera would automatically set or crop for the type of lens:  "The Nikon D700 lets you select from either FX format (36 x 24) or DX format (24 x 16). At the default setting of [Auto DX crop], the camera will automatically select DX format when a DX NIKKOR lens is attached."  We could at least use EF-S format lenses and Fullframe lenses, because Canon has very good lenses in both category.  They could also put in some sort of auto vignetting correction for lenses.

[Bob Atkins]

Canon can't do it. EF-S lenses extend further inside the camera than EF lenses do and the mirror of a full frame body would hit them, even if they could be mounted (and they can't because of mechanical interference by design).

Nikon DX lenses (and all 3rd party APS-C lenses) don't extend further into the camera body, so they can be mounted on full frame bodies and those bodies can just use the center part of the image.

While there are some technical reasons why Canon's approach could give extreme wideangle lenses with slightly better optical performance, I still think they made an error by making the mounts incompatible with full frame cameras. The marginal theoretical image quality improvement isn't worth the lack of compatibility it introduces.

So I'm afraid that the EOS 5D MkII (or 3D or 7D or whatever they call it), will NOT be able to use EF-S lenses and neither will any future Canon full frame camera.

I think Canon have painted themselves into a corner with this one. They have no logical way out. They've done the same thing with stabilized lenses vs. stabilized bodies (as have Nikon). Pentax, Sony and Olympus now have stabilization built into the body. Canon and Nikon put stabilization in the lens (which costs extra and means there a re a lot of lenses without stabilization). While Canon and Nikon could bring out a camera with built-in stabilization, neither is likely to do so because they have so much investment in promoting and selling stabilized lenses.

Sont are rumored to be bringing out a full frame camera (24MP) with built-in stabilization by the end of the year. We'll have to see if they do and see what the price is. It could change the game a little if it's both technically good and sells for significantly less than Canon or Nikon full frame models. It can hardly be more expensive than the 1Ds MKIII, which it appears to be aimed at.

[KeithB]

To be fair, when IS was first developed, digital was not yet king.

On-body IS on a *film* camera would be an incredible feat!

[Bob Atkins]

Yes indeed, lens based IS was winning technology for film and the first IS lens (75-300 I think) was a real technological breakthrough.

Sometimes, however, being first turns out to be less of an advantage as the technology advances and Sony/Pentax/Olympus were not constrained by fillm concerens. Today film plays a very minor role in photography. If it didn't you'd see Canon promoting IS lens as film compatible, and yet I've never even seen them mention that factor. They do talk about stabilization of the viewfinder image, but never about the fact that their lenses stabilize the image on film!

Of course it's quite possible to make image stabilized bodies and have image stabilized lenses. You couldn't have both working at once since they would "fight" for control, but you could certainly have a system where you could chose which stabilization system to activate. Then you could let the market decide whether of not they bought IS lenses or depended on the body for stabilization. I suspect Canon worry that the market would vote with their dollars and buy cheaper non-IS lenses where available, so they are reluctant to offer their customers that choice.

[dickytunes]

Have to say I'm bored of waiting now! A replacement is long, long over due and I can only think that they're not replacing it to protect sales of the EOS1 range. With the 50D spec being what it is then any replacement for the 5D will have to be pretty similar to the EOS1.

Rich

http://www.richardarran.com

[Bob Atkins]

Have patience. Photokina doesn't start until Semptember 23rd. There's plenty of time between now and then for Canon to announce a 5D successor.

[danw]

Yes, bored of waiting and discouraged.  Me too.  But I see a new link at http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-News/ that points to a couple of teaser ads for… something new.  The implication seems to be that it is a new body.  This has gotta be the 5D replacement… I hope.

Do you suppose it is a coincidence that these ads showed up on the 5th of September?

[NCP]

Bob,
Being as astute as you are, and I'm referring to your update article about the 5D replacement teasers...I'm sure you might have noticed that the camera continues to come into better view with each day on Canon's webpage.

Canon are being very creative here and giving us a bit more of the image as they get closer to announcing it. I suspect when the image comes into full view it'lll coincide with the company announcement. Would you say that's a predictable/logical conclusion? When I look at your original teaser article and you have the image posted, you can now see the difference in visible detail of the camera...Here's the most recent revealing image: http://www.canon.com/moon/en/index.html
Thanks for all your great information and a superb reference website!

[Bob Atkins]

That could well be, but I wish they'd spend their money on technical development or lowering the cost of cameras abd lenses rather than on sillly "teaser" advertising.

What does it matter if they tell us this week or next week. I don't suppose the camera will be available for a month. Whatever the specs are, those waiting for it will buy it anyway. As I've said, expect everything on the 50D, plus a 20+ MP sensor and possibly a few surprise "features" (viideo?).

Sure it will be interesting to see what they've done, but some people seem to enjoy speculating on new gear more than actually taking photographs

[NCP]

I couldn't agree with you more....Yet, with Canon being the major international corporation that they are, commercial and profit interests abound! and therefore, we get silly teaser advertisements...wetting everyone's whistle I suppose is how you could look at it. I'm sure they have pure motives to advance the photographic industry with innovation, etc., but the bottom line is no doubt right up there on the priority list as well.

We have no further to look than iPhones and Blackberry releases to see the hype that gets built up for a big 'launch.' At least people aren't camping out in line yet (like iPhones) in front of B&H to wait for a camera release Thank goodness some things haven't changed!

[Bob Atkins]

Well, the wait is over....

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_eos_5D_MkII_preview.html

[Qwagmire]

Am I missing something?  Im rather underwhelmed at this offering.  Im sure 1Ds3 owners arent going to like sharing their sensor.

I was hoping for more of a 1D focusing system, event if it wasnt as refined, and time will tell if it is a dust bunny like my wifes old  5D.

Still got the print button though.

[Bob Atkins]

I think your are far too easily underwhelmed!

The larger sensor, better weatherproofing, UDMA card support, HD video, High resolution LCD, ISO settings to 6400 (native) plus 12800 and 25600 expansion aren't exactly cosmetic upgrades. And the price at $2700 is lower than that of the old 5D when it was introduced and $300 lower than either Nikon or Sony's full frame DLSRs (and the Nikon is 12MP).

I'd class the 5D to 5D MkII upgrade as a major upgrade, not a minor tweak.

In fact Canon have probably crippled the sales of the 1Ds MkIII. I know several photographers who were thinking of getting the 1Ds MkIII and who have now placed orders for the 5D MkII instead. I suspect it may not be too long (6 months?) before we see a 1Ds MkIV.