Biggest Guns Still Missing from Pre-Photokina Announcements
by Wesley Fink on September 5, 2008 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Canon 5D Replacement
We're calling this the 5D replacement because it isn't completely clear what it will be called. Names that are flying around range from the Canon 5D Mark II to the Canon 3D and 7D. Some have even suggested that there will be several full-frame Canon models available in this price space after Photokina. Specs have ranged all over the place in the rumor mill, which has churned out speculation about a replacement model for almost two years. Lately the speculation seems to have converged on a set of specs that are likely close to the final product:
- 18.2MP or 21.1MP Full-Frame DIGIC IV
- ISO 100-6400 with expansions of Lo: 50 and Hi: 12800
- 5 FPS
- 3.2" High Resolution LCD
- 19-point AF
- HDMI Out
- Live View
- HD Movie Mode
- 100% Viewfinder Coverage (current 5D is 95%)
- Full weather sealing
- EF Lenses only (like the current 5D, EF-S lenses are rumored not to mount or work properly)
The final announcement by Canon will fill in the blanks, but a few items are particularly intriguing. The current $8000 1Ds Mark III is also 21.2MP, and it would be very unlike Canon to announce a 5D replacement with a resolution that would cannibalize a much more expensive pro model. That is unless a 1Ds replacement is on the near horizon. The other interesting claim is a High Definition Movie Mode, which would certainly better explain the sudden appearance of the Nikon D90 Movie Mode. It will be very interesting to see if this is actually true.
Experts in the photo industry have recently suggested that all future DSLR cameras will come with a very high definition movie mode. One even suggested that all reporters will be shooting high-definition moves within 2 years with DSLRs and that editors can select the freeze of their choice for "still" media. Some will scream murder at his suggestion, but it is not really far-fetched.
The price for the Canon 5D replacement is also all over the place, with rumors from $2000 (the current street price of the 5D) to $3500 (the original selling price of the 5D). Some have even suggested several full-frame models from Canon with price points of $2000, $3000, and $5000 (like the D3).
For us the bigger question is the timing of the 5D replacement. Will it finally arrive at Photokina as expected or will it once again be delayed? Canon has just posted a teaser web page at their Canon USA website. The title is "Destined Evolution" and the outline appears to be the new 5D replacement. However, the same 5D replacement was expected last fall and didn't happen, then seemed a certain announcement at PMA in January and got delayed again. Will the long-rumored and seriously overdue 5D replacement finally appear? We'll find out soon enough.
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Visual - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
Forgive me for not being too excited about the "big guns" that are outside of my price range, and expertise really.I am hoping there will be a successor to the PowerShot S5 instead.
Wesley Fink - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
We appreciate your comment, but the issue with the S5 IS and G0 is the same that manufacturers are now facing with almost any high-end point-and-shoot camera. For the suggested S5/G9 price range of $349 to $499 you can also buy a Sony A200 with a decent 18-70mm kit lens or a tiny Olympus E-420 with a 14-42mm kit lens.Both are real interchangeable lens SLRs with sensors that are huge compared to the S5 - which means much better low-light shooting and higher quality pictures. The Sony has built-in Image Stabilization and the E-420 has Live View that will be familiar to those who use P&S cameras.
Just $100 more and you will find the tiny Canon XS kit and Nikon D60 kit - both with image stabilized kit lens - and the Olympus E-520 which adds Image Stabilization to the small E-420.
The industry is having a difficult time building upper end Point-and-Shoot cameras that make economic sense today. It is likely that the Olympus Micro four-thirds just announced will bring new point and shoots with larger sensors and capabilities more like current DSLRs with a familiar P&S form factor.
We expect to see new Micro 4/3 models at Photokina. Other manufacturers will be watching to see if it catches on with consumers. If it does you will see more large sensor (and better image quality) P&S models from everyone.
jnmfox - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
I had a Canon S3, I partly bought it to help my wife get used to the idea of having a little bigger camera for when we eventually upgrade to an SLR. To my dismay she hated how big it was and that is couldn’t fit in her purse/diaper bag. So when it broke a few months ago one of the requirements was it had to be small enough to fit in her purse. We ended up with a Panasonic TZ5. I like the larger LCD, long zoom, and 720p video and she likes it can fit in her purse. She is the one with the kids all day so it was important we got something she was happy with. So while I agree that SLRs are defiantly where things are going and the biggest innovations are happening but I also believe P&S have their place (it would be great if they got a modified SLR sensor like you mentioned).I still plan to upgrade to an SLR but it will have to wait till I find one with the features that I want for the price I want…and when I stop spending money on computer parts and home theater equipment.
strikeback03 - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
The 4/3 sensors, while the smallest of the dSLR sensors, is still almost 8x the area of the sensor used in the TZ5. Barring a revolution in lens construction, there is no way to make a superzoom camera around a dSLR-class sensor pocketable.I carry a Canon SD800IS everywhere with me. Though it is hacked to record in RAW if needed, I don't try to do things with it I would do with one of my SLR bodies. It is useful because it fits in a carpenter pocket so I can carry it anywhere. And you must have a tiny diaper bag if an S3IS won't fit.
Wesley Fink - Monday, September 8, 2008 - link
The micro 4/3 does away with the mirror box and significantly reduces the lens to film plane distance to 50% of the current 4/3 distance. You will likely be surprised at how small the micro 4/3 can be when the cameras start appearing at Photokina later this month.It is our uderstanding that current 4/3 lenses CAN be mounted on micro 4/3 but that an adapter with a spacer block is needed for mounting. THere will also be smaller Micro 4/3 lenses introduced.
For more info on Micro 4/3 at http://www.olympus-global.com/en/news/2008b/nr0808...">http://www.olympus-global.com/en/news/2008b/nr0808... which also has links to a micro 4/3 Features and Benefits page.
strikeback03 - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 - link
I'm basically expecting 1/2 to 1/3 scale rangefinders. So sure they'll be small and high quality, but I'm doubting they can get an 11x zoom and a body small enough to match the TZ5. The P&S cameras don't have a mirror box to deal with either, and the sensor is far smaller so the glass can be as well.Does Olympus have any tricks up their sleeve to get an optical viewfinder in these? Or will they be stuck with EVF/onscreen?
jnmfox - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
Just lots and lots of stuff...don't ask me I can never find anything in it.Noya - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
I have the S4, and while it's a decent camera...it's performance is no where near a D-SLR. I took a couple photography classes back in the day (99-01) and had a 35mm film Canon Rebel SLR and even it took better pictures than the S4 (and any non D-SLR digital camera, I would guess).soydios - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
last page: Nikon D3X, not D2xchiew - Friday, September 5, 2008 - link
yes, d3x, not d2x