mfurtman
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 p.69 #5 · 'Un-Official' pre-PMA Rumor Thread | |
Contrary to what some have stated in this discussion, there are plenty of pros out there -- myself included -- who use 1.6x crop factor bodies. Canon recognized this when they improved the shutter life of the 30D over the 20D, (from 10,000 actuations to 100,000) and they recognized in their 30D white paper that the 20D and 30D are often the choice of working pros because of price and size.
In their 30D white paper Canon stated: "The EOS 20D was among the first mid-priced DSLRs to gain broad support, not just from advanced amateurs and serious photo hobbyists, but from a wide range of working professionals: wedding and portrait photographers, journalists, sports shooters, press organizations and newspapers. After reviewing the feature improvements of the EOS 30D, it becomes apparent that Canon hasmanaged to make this new camera far more suitable for professional applications, while at the same time maintaining its strong appeal to advanced amateurs. Whereas the EOS 20D could reasonably have been described as the “big brother” of the Digital Rebel XT, the EOS 30D is truly the “little brother” of its higher-priced sibling, the EOS 5D. This makes the 30D a compelling proposition for a wide range of customers, including:
• 5D or EOS-1 class owners looking for a professional quality backup camera
• Wedding and portrait photographers looking for exceptional image quality and
professional features in a compact, lightweight package
• Photojournalists, other professionals and anyone else looking for outstanding
performance at an affordable price."
In other words, at least Canon recognizes that plenty of pros use the 30D and its predecessors, and that the market for these cameras isn't limited to "hard up amateurs."
In addition, the crop factor makes long lenses "longer" which is a very popular feature among pro wildlife photographers, and I doubt seriously that it has hurt the sale of their "L" series lenses. In my travels as a working pro, I see plenty of full time, well published professional photographers shooting 20D and 30D bodies. Finally, I think the worries about "sealed" bodies is highly over-blown. My cameras are worked hard, are never cased, are out in all kinds of weather, including sub zero temperatures and snow, hauled around on boats, in kayaks and canoes, etc., and have never failed as long I take some very minimal precautions. Besides, I look at these bodies as expendable -- I can buy three 30Ds (if they were to die, which none have) for the price of one pro-series body.
Frankly, I'm pleased with Canon's current camera line-up, and don't yearn for any more pixels than my 30D delivers -- I sell plenty of cover shots and double-truck (2-page spreads) to magazines originating from 8 mp files. If the 30D replacement does retain the 1.6x crop factor, but jumps up to 10-12 mp, I hope that it retains the excellent image quality the 8 mp sensor produces, especially at higher ISOs.
What I'd like to see are smaller, lighter "L" series lenses. With the improved noise reduction of Canon's sensors, shooting at higher ISOs makes f/5.6 lenses (like the 100-400) much more suitable for wildlife photography than they were in the days of 100-200 ISO transparency film. I no longer need, or want, to haul around the giant 500mm f/4. A hand holdable, 500mm f/5.6 image stabilized "L" series lens -- either a prime or in some zoom configuration -- would sell like hotcakes, in my opinion, to pros and serious amateurs alike.
PMA is just around the corner. I don't know if there will be a 30D replacement or not, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that some new, smaller and yes, slower, "L" series lenses might be announced.
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