Archive for the 'Canon EOS 5D Mk II' category

Out of Canon, nobody seems to really have a clue about what will be the successor to the Canon EOS 5D. Most people assume that it will be named either Canon EOS 5D Mk II (the most probable possibility according to several sources), Canon EOS 6D or even Canon EOS 7D. However, this does not stop experts and not-so-experts to make various assumptions about what specification it will have.

Taking into account the existence of the Nikon D3 and its impressive set of features, Canon sure has to prepare a top-of-the-line DSLR with a superb Full-Frame sensor, with outstanding image quality. Of course, this is a normal (but difficult) target for the leader and the company that drove us into the Full-Frame world. There, we found: large pixel counts, exceptionally low noise levels, very high sensitivity and a normal 1-to-1 conversion factor for lenses. This last item may not always be a positive (for example, long tele-lens lovers appreciate that a smaller APS-C sensor transforms your common 300mm lens into a loveable 450mm optical gun), but the rest is a boon for photo quality. And there, as the Canon EOS 5D then the Nikon D3 proved, there is a giant step to be taken from more common DSLR.

So, it should be no surprise that photo-related forums are dripping with more or less reliable comments about what the Canon EOS 5D Mk II will be. Possibly, we will see specifications around the following:

• 15 to 16 MP sensor (good but not oustanding, in order to hit hard on image quality; Enough to top the 12MP of Nikon D3) with 14-bit A/D conversion (the de facto standard of Canon image quality)
• ISO 12800 (boost up to ISO 25600) that should give Nikon a run for their money
• All-new 29-point TTL CMOS AF sensor (needed to compete with the impressive 51-point AF sensor of Nikon)
• 6 fps continuous shooting (for more than 50 frames)
• Lens fine adjustment setups for 14 lenses

The rest should be more predictable and does not request a crystal ball (sensor dust cleaning, improved 1MP 3″ LCD screen, LiveView inspired by cheaper DSLR models, weather sealing that was lacking from the EOS 5D). But there are two important elements left out of this picture:

• The price target would be around $3500 (to be compared to the $5500 of the Nikon D3), definitely strong positive argument for Canon even if this is still targetting pros and rich amateurs;
• The announcement would be made in April 2008 (may be, not as a Fool’s Day joke) for availability before mid-June.

These last key arguments could prove critical to offer a very good position to Canon. They had the first Full-Frame DLSR camera (the EOS 5D). Now, Nikon is trying to grab the market with the Nikon D3 since last November. Canon has to hit hard in order to keep the upper hand and they cannot wait for some pro photographers to switch (even if this category of customers cannot jump out of the train each and every year like some enthusiast consumers). Moreover, we know that Sony will be soon arriving with a new Full-Frame DSLR based on a 24MP sensor presented a few months ago (rumoured to be named Sony Alpha 900).

It’s time for Canon to shoot a star. The Canon EOS 5D history needs a sequel to become a real Full-Frame saga. The Canon EOS 5D Mk II could be this long-awaited beacon for the highest end of the Canon DSLR line.

Sources: slo-foto forums, DPreview forums.

Since we did not see any announcement in today’s press conference from Canon, I suspect that we will have to wait a little more to see a replacement for the Canon EOS 5D.

It’s not only a naming game. Since people are waiting for a possible launch by Canon on the 24th of January, and since they don’t see anything coming during the waiting period, speculations abound. Now the rumour is that Canon will launch only a EOS 450D (or Rebel XTs, Rebel XTS, the silver version of 300D/Rebel XT) at the February PMA and the replacement for the Canon EOS 5D will wait until Photokina.

This would be the occasion for Canon to shoot higher than the supposed slight improvements over the 5D (with a slight name change like EOS 5D Mk II) and pile up major features to fight back Nikon and its most recent D3 and D300 (explaining a move to the more severe name change of EOS 6D or EOS 7D).

It’s amazing the number of unfounded rumours flowing currently about the future replacement of the Canon EOS 5D camera, a nice Full Frame digital SLR from the market leader. It seems that Canon has put a tight cover on all information, it is quite probable that an announcement will be made on 24th of January (but will it be a replacement for the 5D or for the smaller 400D/Rebel Xti?), and people start creating rumours just for fun.

Recently, I noticed the information about the sensor size of the future 6D or EOS 5D mk II (just in January):

• 12 MP (unchanged from EOS 5D)
• 16 MP
• 18 MP
• 24 MP

Either, Canon invented the technology to reconfigure the sensor size on-the-fly, or the vast majority of these guesstimates are plain wrong…

BestPriceCameras.com on-line photo seller is trying to get some cheap money out of the rumours around the upcoming replacement for the Canon EOS 5D: They opened a product page for the Canon EOS 5D Mk II.

However, they appear to be one of the most despised shops on the web with low customer rating, plenty of horror stories (look in Google). The fact that the page is not even removed after publication probably means that this was fully intentional and they don’t want to loose an opportunity to grab money from gullible web photographers.

According to PhotoBlog, Canon is about to announce new photo products on the 24th of January just before the PMA fair in Las Vegas.

Obviously, they do not have more information than anybody else on what will be announced really. But they speculate on a replacement for the EOS 400D/Rebel Xti (Canon EOS 450D, maybe) or a replacement for the EOS 5D (either Canon EOS 6D or Canon EOS 5D Mk II, depending on who you ask to).

This is the very good question asked by Bob Atkins on his web site. Admittedly, the EOS 6D or the EOS 5D Mk II (nobody knows for sure the future real name of the successor to the Canon EOS 5D Full Frame sensor digital camera). But Bob makes good assumptions about what is possible.

Essentially, the choice is either before the Las Vegas PMA (in February 2008) or before the Köln Photokina fair (in September 2008). I admit I don’t have more information than that, but January and August appear to be the reasonnable dates for launching such a new product. However, I tend to believe that Canon would probably be tempted by two possible strategies:

1. Pushing a second-generation FF camera as soon as possible as a pre-emptive strike against the other Full-Frame cameras to appear on the market (I tend to consider the Nikon D3 as priced too high to be really in competition with the Canon EOS 5D or the future 6D or 5D Mark II). If Canon has a really threatening product, they should not wait any longer than strictly necessary.
2. But this may also mean exposing themselves a little too early to the competition which only has the EOS 5D to compare itself. Why shouldn’t Canon wait a little more to be sure that they understand where Sony (with the Sony Alpha 900), Nikon (with some yet to be shown camera) and others will try to position themselves? This would allow them to apply some less subtle marketing techniques at launch time, like hitting the market just after a previous offer to push it into the dark.

Whatever happens is still left undecided (that’s the beauty of predicting the future), but I’d really bet that 2008 will be considered the year of the Full Frame Digital SLR.

Since the recent leak of the name of the newest full-frame sensor D-SLR from Canon (Canon EOS 5D Mk II), there was a post on DPreview forums showing what are -allegedly- images of this camera. It seems too good to be true, or the camera is nearly ready for announcement.

the back of the camera is also visible after clicking on the jump link:
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We don’t know much about the future successor to the excellent digital single-lens reflex camera Canon EOS 5D (the first D-SLR with a nearly affordable full-frame sensor). It is still uncertain that it’s name will really be EOS 5D Mk II, but it’s now definitely possible since Phase One, editor of the high-end photo retouching software Capture One, let appear this name in its bug submission form (in the camera list).

Since the Canon EOS 40D name was also leaked in a similar way, we can easily conclude that, despite the lack of precise specifications, the name of the future full-frame sensor digital camera from Canon will be EOS 5D Mk II.