Photography Thailand Forum

[Marc Schultz]

Rumors are just that, Rumors!

Regarding the 5D Mark III: http://www.canonrumors.com/2010/12/5d-mark-iii-cr1-3/

Regrading the 1DS Mark IV: http://www.canonrumors.com/2010/12/no-1ds-mark-iv-in-2011-cr2/

The current 5D Mark II was announced in September 2008 (2+ years ago) and the current flagship, the 1DS Mark III was announced in August 2007 (3+ years ago)

Both are overdue for an update/replacement, especially Canon's flagship model which has been historically updated once every 2 to 2.5 years.

For what it is worth though (again just speculations), seems more likely a new 5D Mark III is coming this year and maybe no 1DS Mark IV in 2011.

[Khun Hans]

Any news about the release of 1Ds Mark IV . Anybody?
Hans

[Marc Schultz]

That question is an anomaly in itself. 

[Marc Schultz]

Hans - There are some more rumors here about the 1DS Mark IV: http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/cameras/Canon_1DS_MkIV.html

[Khun Hans]

Thanks, Marc. Yes... That's all just rumors. Interesting about the 5DMII: It's still selling well though the net is full of complains about the AF. This cam is not developed for fast shooting. Fast shooting FF is 1Ds. 
Hans

[Marc Schultz]

Hans - That site has a separate page just on 5D series related rumors too if you are interested. Yes, with the 5D series in general the slow auto focus and limited number of focus points has always been an issue for me. Also the single memory card slot as well. The other day I was copying files from my memory card to the computer and there was a card error and some pictures were lost. Thankfully I had the second card backup in my camera to copy the pictures from or some of my work would have really been lost. When the 5D Mark III comes out I hope they put a second card slot in it as well as offer more than just 9 focus points. Chances are I don't think they will though. They have to have some reason to charge 3X the price for the 1Ds series. But if the 5D Mark III comes out first, and has close to 30MP, then I might buy it anyway and forget the 1Ds Mark IV. It will save $5,000 and with the extra money I can buy myself 2-3 more L lenses. I would like to upgrade to the newest 24mm shift lens for architecture and possibly get a new 70-200mm lens with IS. Let's see though what Canon finally does and which one they release first. Hopefully its only a matter of months and not years :)

[mahonyWeb]

I've recently sold my 1Ds mk3 and all of my Canon gear to replace it with a Leica M9 and the store where I bought the Leica also sold secondhand gear. Seeing that they had a 1Ds mk2 on the shelf (for £2,900) I offered them the 1Ds, but they simply weren't interested - supposedly the 5D mk2 and the 1D mk4 have cannibalised the market for the 1Ds mk3 so much so that they simply can't sell them.

If Canon had released the 1Ds mk4 last year I'd have snapped one up in a shot (excuse the pun), but now I've sold all of my gear I'm unsure I'd return - if I were to choose a dSLR today I think I'd look strong and hard at Nikon.

[Khun Hans]

I've recently sold my 1Ds mk3 and all of my Canon gear to replace it with a Leica M9 and the store where I bought the Leica also sold secondhand gear. Seeing that they had a 1Ds mk2 on the shelf (for £2,900) I offered them the 1Ds, but they simply weren't interested - supposedly the 5D mk2 and the 1D mk4 have cannibalised the market for the 1Ds mk3 so much so that they simply can't sell them.

If Canon had released the 1Ds mk4 last year I'd have snapped one up in a shot (excuse the pun), but now I've sold all of my gear I'm unsure I'd return - if I were to choose a dSLR today I think I'd look strong and hard at Nikon.

Interesting. Was that In Thailand here?

[mahonyWeb]

No, the UK: http://www.wilkinson.co.uk

[Marc Schultz]

That is interesting about the Mark III. I was having a chat with someone at Canon Thailand last week and I was saying how I was hoping Canon would release a new pro body soon so I can upgrade my 1DS Mark II. He said many people are waiting, including Canon Thailand and he hopes it wont be much longer. Obviously that is not any indication of anything, but I also mentioned that when I get the next model I will probably keep the 1DS Mark II as a backup. He said if it was him that he would too. He said the Mark II is one of the best bodies Canon made and a lot of people still really like them. It kind of surprised me knowing this model was already released over 5 years ago. I think the problem with the Mark III is that it wasn't really a significant upgrade on the Mark II and the hardware wasn't really brought up to speed to match the higher pixel count. The 5D Mark II is bigger and faster, but not stronger.

[Gregg Spradling]

When the 5D Mark III comes out I hope they put a second card slot in it as well as offer more than just 9 focus points. Chances are I don't think they will though.

I'm surprised to hear that about the 9 AF points. I would have guessed the 5D Mark III would have at least the same 19 points and AF system as the 7D.

With that said, I was at the Nikon show (runs all weekend) at Siam Paragon today looking at the D3s, 300s, etc... and it made me wonder if anyone really needs 51 AF points.

[Khun Hans]

... and it made me wonder if anyone really needs 51 AF points.

That's it Gregg. All these AF points come in use for fast shooters i.e. sports and BIF. That's where you need a predictive AF and it is useful to have as many AF pints as possible.
Hans

[Gregg Spradling]

ah, that makes perfect sense Hans.

[Marc Schultz]

When the 5D Mark III comes out I hope they put a second card slot in it as well as offer more than just 9 focus points. Chances are I don't think they will though.

I'm surprised to hear that about the 9 AF points. I would have guessed the 5D Mark III would have at least the same 19 points and AF system as the 7D.

With that said, I was at the Nikon show (runs all weekend) at Siam Paragon today looking at the D3s, 300s, etc... and it made me wonder if anyone really needs 51 AF points.

Well, if they put 19 AF points in the new 5D Mark III that would be a big step forward, but still 19, as compared to the 50 I have now, would take some getting used to and would be a step backward no matter what. Not just for sports, but anytime shooting with a telephoto lens of over 100mm at F4 or F/2.8 it really comes in handy all those focus points. If you are trying to shoot a head shot close-up of someone, and focus on the eyes with 9AF point, even 19AF, it might be difficult. If you have to focus lock and then move the camera to recompose there is a very high chance the eyes wont be fully in sharp focus if you are shooting with a full frame DSLR. Again, an important consideration for me.

[epixx]

It's interesting to notice that replacements for the top models from all the three suppliers and second tier models from Nikon and Sony, is being held back. Sony is apparently going for a fully electronic interface for all their cameras (electronic or hybrid viewfinder), with the A77 being launched in 3-5 months. If the full frame A99 is launched within the first year with the same system and is successful, Canon and Nikon may be getting a major headache if they have newly launched but traditional 1Ds Mark IV and D4X in their portfolio. My guess is that they are both waiting to see how the new Sonys are doing. "Traditional" DSLRs will obviously work just fine, even if more "advanced" alternatives are available, but nobody, not even conservative Nikon, like to be left behind in the technological rat race.

Electronic viewfinders on DSLRs have been hiding just under the horizon since the launch of the first digital cameras, but so far they have been considered inferior to their optical equivalents. That can change very fast though. The technology has been available for a long time, and the viewfinders of professional video cameras are simply great, but so far, the market hasn't been ready for it. Panasonic has partly changed that with the G1 etc. cameras. Although those viewfinders are not nearly as good as a good optical one, they have proved how useful an electronic interface can be (size of viewfinder, enlarged view, WB and histogram visible real time, menus available in viewfinder etc.). Having used a GH1 for a year, I mostly use my Nikon cameras when the superior AF and/or DR is needed. The Panasonic is simply easier and faster to use. The AF issue seems to be solved as well. At Sony by using a translucent mirror, and in the Panasonic GH2 by using an improved contrast detect AF.

I'm not saying that Canon and Nikon will switch to EVFs in the next generation, but I'm sure they are considering the option, and again: Sony has already announced the switch, but it's not clear yet if the top models will have hybrid or electronic only viewfinders (A33 and 55 have EVF only). They are much cheaper to manufacture, and mostly maintenance free. The next thing to go will obviously be the mechanical shutter. In five years, optical viewfinders on new cameras will probably be a nostalgic option in a few cameras. Sad in many ways, but in ten years, we won't even think about it, and young photographers will jump in horror when they hear the "click clack" of an ancient DSLR from 2011 or thereabouts