First, this is NOT meant to be an inflammatory post.
Does anyone have a "gut feel" if Canon will introduce a successor to the 5D.MK2 that will have improved AF and weather-sealing?
I'm considering jumping into dSLR (from 35mm film) and I really appreciated the high-end AF on the EOS 1V. Right now I don't own any lenses or camera bodies, so I'm starting out fresh. Since EOS mount accepts so many different types of lenses (with adapters), the 5D/5D.MK2 route seems very attractive to me.
However, I can't ignore the superior build of the D700 and its advanced AF. I just want to know if Canon will catch-up, or if they would see adding such features to their 5D-series as sacrificing their high-end 1D-series.
I would be very surprised to see a successor for a while unless they introduce another line like a 3D. The 5D / 24-105 is out of stock everywhere so I don't think they are hurting for sales.
What do you normally shoot slrlover? Unless you're shooting actions like sports, I don't think advance AF matters all that much really. That said, if you do get the Nikon, it'll just be another tiny little push for Canon to put something more in their camera bodies, like better AF for example. Sooner or later Canon will budge and give it to their customers.
Canons 1D series and (so far) the 5D series have been released to a 3 year shedule, despire all the speculation and wishing for an earlier release etc...
So with the 5D II released late 2008, one can expect a replacement in late 2011... Certainly not now when it is less than a year old... Maybe if Nikon pull somethign special then late 2010.. but not really likely..
So buy your 5D II and ejoy - its in the early part of the model cycle, over any teething problems and great value...
Sure the new 5d III model in 2011 will be better - but thats 2+ years away!
If you need solid autofocus in a high megapixel full frame body, pick up a used 1Ds Mark II. 16.7 MP of beautiful imagery, with 45 point AF, weathersealed build, etc. They go for between 1800 and 2500 depending on condition and number of actuations...sometimes better (I got my excellent condition 1DsII for $1700).
Jman13 wrote:
If you need solid autofocus in a high megapixel full frame body, pick up a used 1Ds Mark II. 16.7 MP of beautiful imagery, with 45 point AF, weathersealed build, etc. They go for between 1800 and 2500 depending on condition and number of actuations...sometimes better (I got my excellent condition 1DsII for $1700).
what? it just came out-this post convinces me that Canon will NEVER be able to make people happy-yes, the 5D2 could use the improvements given to the D700 but it just came out
not an attempt to flame you but it will be 2-3 yrs before you hear anything about a replacement-i'll 2nd the 1Ds2, amazing piece of equipment
slrl0ver wrote:
Does anyone have a "gut feel" if Canon will introduce a successor to the 5D.MK2 that will have improved AF and weather-sealing?
If Canon added improved AF and weather sealing to the $2700 to the 5D series, can you name one good reason why anybody would bother spending $7000 on a 1Ds camera? Any reason at all?
Canon will never release that fabled 5D with superior autofocus, for the same reason why Nikon will never release a mythical D700x with high resolution. These companies need to differentiate between their pro-level and consumer-level models. The people expecting the 5D to have all the features they ever dreamed of are, frankly, not being realistic.
Incidentally, I would not expect a 5D2 replacement for a long, long, time. Otherwise, they wouldn't have issued that firmware update for manual video control. That was the one major feature that could've headlined the feature-set of a replacement camera. The fact that Canon released it as a firmware upgrade for the 5D2 speaks volumes about their lack of intention for a replacement.
Does anyone have a "gut feel" if Canon will introduce a successor to the 5D.MK2 that will have improved AF and weather-sealing?
My gut feel is that the mythical 3D will finally materialize sometime in 2011.
Canon has so far ignored the Nikon D300 and the D700, but Nikon will have a 24mp D700x soon and a 15-16mp successor to the D700 in the next two years.
Canon will only be losing sales to Nikon if they stubbornly keep the pro AF to the 1-series only.
First, this is NOT meant to be an inflammatory post.
Does anyone have a "gut feel" if Canon will introduce a successor to the 5D.MK2 that will have improved AF and weather-sealing?
I'm considering jumping into dSLR (from 35mm film) and I really appreciated the high-end AF on the EOS 1V. Right now I don't own any lenses or camera bodies, so I'm starting out fresh. Since EOS mount accepts so many different types of lenses (with adapters), the 5D/5D.MK2 route seems very attractive to me.
However, I can't ignore the superior build of the D700 and its advanced AF. I just want to know if Canon will catch-up, or if they would see adding such features to their 5D-series as sacrificing their high-end 1D-series.
stargazer78 wrote:
If Canon added improved AF and weather sealing to the $2700 to the 5D series, can you name one good reason why anybody would bother spending $7000 on a 1Ds camera? Any reason at all?
Canon will never release that fabled 5D with superior autofocus, for the same reason why Nikon will never release a mythical D700x with high resolution. These companies need to differentiate between their pro-level and consumer-level models. The people expecting the 5D to have all the features they ever dreamed of are, frankly, not being realistic.
otoh, the volume of 1ds/dxx sales is very low
and back in film days one could get a huge performance bump just by paying $1000 more
not everyone wants a brick either, i know lots of people who wouldnt be too wild of a 1 series even if it cost $2500 new.
also nikon has already done it to a fair extent in their APS-C line
and even the D700 pretty much 100% did it in terms of the D3
Thank you very much for your responses. In no particular order, I wanted to address a few points:
1. I tend to prefer wide-angle, landscapes, nature, etc. But, I really like vintage automobile races & air-shows and definitely do not want the AF to be a limiting factor. A friend with a 5D (mk1) assures me it's fully capable, the caveat being center-point only for decent AI-servo. I think (can't say definitively) I'd prefer some cross-type AF points not in the center for creative composition in these high-motion situations.
2. The 1D-series are amazing, and a 16 MP 1Ds MarkII is more than enough for what I want. But, it's really a tank and I can't imagine lugging it around for fun, taking it on vacations or hiking trips. Maybe I'm wrong and I could do it, but I was hoping for a smaller, FF/35mm camera. The 5D seems to be the right size and has most of what I want. A crop 40D or something might be an alternative for "vacation" photography, but then I lose wide-angle without another set of lenses, etc.
3. Personally, I think people WOULD go for the 1D series, even if there was a 5D that was mostly equivalent (say AF + weather-resistance). I say that because those who want a tank, with vertical grip integrated, high-FPS, dual card storage, etc really want that. The D700 and D3 seem mostly equivalent, but I think there's still demand for D3. I congratulate Nikon for putting their high-end AF from D3 into the D700 and D300. Personally, even if I could get a 1Ds for $1400 I don't think I would because what I do doesn't need the tank build.
4. Although you're right, no company can make a product that makes everyone happy, it seems to me the AF/weather sealing are pretty important when you consider the financial aspect of one of these systems. Even Pentax's K10D/K20D/K7 bests Canon on weather sealing and (potentially) a few other features. If the D700 had an EOS mount, there would be no dilemma for me. But, I don't want to make this into a thread about Canon "sucking" or something like that because that is NOT how I feel.
5. The reason for my post (which I may not have been clear about) is IF I'm going to get a brand-new "expensive" dSLR setup and long-term invest in lenses, will Canon deliver a 5D-sized camera with the two features I want the most (or come close)? I fully realize that won't happen for sometime, but 2011 is different than telling me 2021.
Unless you have a vast lineup of Canon EF lenses, I would really look at Nikon if you're just getting into digital SLR's. Canon plays far too many games with their lineup trying to soak every last cent they can. While I fully understand this is a company, and this is what companies do, the overall tone in this thread is a lot of hope for the future, rather than happiness with the now. Nikon does the same thing, but they seem to have a better grasp on giving the customers more of what they want rather than thumbing their nose at them like Canon does. I've personally done extensive testing with the 1Ds3 and 5D2 and I've stuck with the original 5d for now (and if you want to stick with Canon, I'd look for a minty used 5d as its image quality is excellent). That's not saying the new Canon cameras suck, but I'm not happy with the image quality when post production is done and the exact same AF as the 5d is not an improvement and it's just more of the same Canon game. Funny thing is, most pros I know (commercial and wedding) use the 5d/5d2 over any of the 1 series cameras. So Canon's crippling of the 5 series doesn't do too much to direct sales to the 1 series with what I've seen. There does seem to be a bit of discontentment with pro Canon users that they just seem to live with.
If you (the OP) are considering alt. lenses with adaptors as a plus for Canon over Nikon, then I don't understand your concern over 5D's AF, because most alt lenses don't AF anyhow.
Besides, don't look at this forum as a good measure of the market. Here many people protest the fact that 5D MkII does not offer every feature of the IDSMkIII plus also every D700 feature for 5D money, but the fact is the camera is still sold out 8 months after release despite a terrible economic climate.
That (how people vote with their feet and money) is a lot more relevant IMHO than Internet rants and raves. And it tells me that anyone can comfortably buy into 5D/5DMkII.
However, if you are looking to buy the "growing" brand, Nikon have a good lineup too.
And if you look to the IQ of pics produded with cameras of either brand, it all comes down to the shooter anyhow...
Just go forth and buy what exists now. It'll be at least a year if not closer to two before there is a 5D MK III, and who knows when there will be a D700X.
My current thought is to have a set (2 or 3) of very good, fast AF lenses (f/2.8 or f/4) and use that for travel, and any fast-movement (cars, etc). I also felt I could benefit from using older, "cheap" manual focus primes (M42, Zuiko, Nikkor, etc), which would force me to slow down and think carefully about composition and not resort to "spray and pray". High FPS of Nikon or 1Ds does not do much for me. From a pure financial point of view, the "old" M42 primes come at a huge cost savings; I see lack of AF and weight as the only detractors, if one buys carefully.
Honestly, I have no real feeling right now of what the ratio of AF to MF I would engage in, maybe using MF lenses is just wishful thinking and I'm seduced by the idea more than actually doing.
I've seen people on this forum and others switch from 5D/5DMK2 to D700 (or other way round) but my gut is, that's not occurring because people are unhappy with the camera's native ability to deliver "raw" IQ. Both routes seem to deliver results, user and quality of glass permitting.
Another thought I had was to simply get two bodies, a D700 with AF lenses and get a used 5D or Pentax for MF lenses. I'm definitely not made of money or loaded, so I'm weighing the costs for all of these combinations. I'm not interested in making this a thread about my dSLR neurosis, so I'll cut it off here.
