What if Canon kept the old 5D?

[lightsabre]

I was looking at the DxOmark page and was impressed that the old 5D sensor, despite being 3 years old, is still giving some of the newer sensors a good run for their money.

From all the review samples and comparison pictures, I conclude that the old 5D is simply a remarkable camera, even when compared the newer crop of cameras today.

With all the hype surrounding the 5DmkII and the high price that it commands, I started to wonder what if Canon introduced another model below the 5DmkII.

What if Canon kept the 5D pretty much as it is, same sensor, with minor upgrades in the microlenses or AA filter perhaps...or even just leave it as it is.

All they need to do is update the camera with some newer technologies such as:

1) The Sensor Cleaning technology
2) An Upgrade to Digic IV processor (complete with similar features and menu to 50D, provided by the firmware). DIGIC IV should allow the camera to:
a) Up the frame rate to 6fps or more... this should be much easier with Digic IV
b) Up the ISO to 6400, again DIGIC IV features. I could use DPP from my 50D and clean up 5D jpg files very well. So upping the ISO should be achievable by DIGIC IV
c) Up the DRange a bit by software
3) A 3" 920k LCD
4) Live view capability
5) A built in flash?

Sell it at around S$ 2.5k (RRP but around $2.3-$2.4 market price)

There are rumors about a 6D (or 7D). This could be that camera...

Would you buy it?

What else would you add to this imaginary camera?

If we voice out, perhaps Canon would listen and finally give us what we want and not what they think they need to produce....

[Headshotzx]

If it was a 5D mark 1.5 with upgraded screen, fps and better ISO, all for 2.3k odd, I'd preorder it straight away.

But it's not going to happen.

[lightsabre]

no harm hoping

[sprewell]

i can only say dream on lol.

but 5D itself is a extremely good backup to my 5D2.

[flyer]

Originally Posted by sprewell but 5D itself is a extremely good backup to my 5D2.

+1 sama sama

[Kit]

You'll have the usual suspects bitching about not enough "improvement" to warrant an upgrade......

[twnll]

At 2.5K? Buay Sai Hiam ah! I will buy one also.

[twnll]

And please leave out the Video thingy...

[genegoh]

If the noise control in improved and the ISO range increased, that would be enough for me!

[Garion]

If Canon were to produce such a cam - sorta like a "stripped down" 5D Mk II (6D? 7D?). Yes, I would buy w/o hesitation. I think it would be something like 400D -> 1000D kind of thing, but for FF format.

Unfortunately we all know how Canon is like...the other big rival (hint: N) doesn't mind to produce a cheaper model which potentially "cannibalizes" its more expensive brother (in Canon's case it would be the 5DII - which itself already could be hurting 1DsIII sales ironically) but Canon on the other hand......

Originally Posted by twnll And please leave out the Video thingy...

Agree on this. Some ppl don't need or use the video function (like me for instance), or already have camcorders of their own. Why shell out the extra dough for something u would never use?

[Yoke]

Ya man, we can always do with a cheaper FF alternative, good for us consumers.
But I think to Canon, the 5D IS their budget FF camera as intended, 5D/5D2 is the very stripped-down version of of their bigger flagship FF cameras like the 1Ds, 1D which cost double. It's so stripped down its just a 40D/50D with fullframe sensor.

They maintain a premium to differentiate the crop series and FF series so as not cannalise their XXD and XXXD and their established EF-S lens range.

With the (cheaper than 1D) 5D2 being sold out worldwide and in shortage with long pre-orders, I guess Canon will not have any plans for any more budget FF thing for a long time to come, laughing their way to the bank. With the cheapest and one of the best FF DLSR in the market, they will dominate the FF market for the next 2-3 years.

They are currently prob sweating out their 1DMk4 (the 1D3 really got some bad name), with new LCD screen, hopefully remedied AF, Video, Digic IV system, newer sensor tech and perhaps upping the MP (they r capable of upping to 50MP).

They will also be very busy preparing their much-needed-to-updated 500D and 1D41/Ds4 over the next year in 2009 while comfortably dominating the budget FF market. So i guess 2009 is more like 500D, 1Ds4,1d4 for Canon, the only DSLRs yet to be updated. 2008 has been exciting with 50D, 5D2, 1000D.

If Canon can listen, it will be a time to rejoice!!!

[lightsabre]

Originally Posted by Yoke Ya man, we can always do with a cheaper FF alternative, good for us consumers. But I think to Canon, the 5D IS their budget FF camera as intended, 5D/5D2 is the very stripped-down version of of their bigger flagship FF cameras like the 1Ds, 1D which cost double. It's so stripped down its just a 40D/50D with fullframe sensor. They maintain a premium to differentiate the crop series and FF series so as not cannalise their XXD and XXXD and their established EF-S lens range. With the (cheaper than 1D) 5D2 being sold out worldwide and in shortage with long pre-orders, I guess Canon will not have any plans for any more budget FF thing for a long time to come, laughing their way to the bank. With the cheapest and one of the best FF DLSR in the market, they will dominate the FF market for the next 2-3 years. They are currently prob sweating out their 1DMk4 (the 1D3 really got some bad name), with new LCD screen, hopefully remedied AF, Video, Digic IV system, newer sensor tech and perhaps upping the MP (they r capable of upping to 50MP). They will also be very busy preparing their much-needed-to-updated 500D and 1D41/Ds4 over the next year in 2009 while comfortably dominating the budget FF market. So i guess 2009 is more like 500D, 1Ds4,1d4 for Canon, the only DSLRs yet to be updated. 2008 has been exciting with 50D, 5D2, 1000D. If Canon can listen, it will be a time to rejoice!!!

You got a point, we all know Canon, they will still produce whatever they think they want to produce, which used to be almost always spot on...eg, the 5D, 20D.

Things are a little different now. Their marketing folks have probably planned out all the products for all market segments that they think will make them money. There will be some hits and some misses.

With all the pre-orders that Canon is getting for the 5D2, it is obvious there is a good market for high-end semi-pro FF camera. No doubt it would be a successful camera.

I was just wondering if there is another FF market below the 5D2.....

I think if they keep the 5D body and just slap in a few updates, it would not take Canon too much R&D time and effort to produce as well.

Similarly, if I were Nikon, I would take the D300, update it and put in an FF sensor with an option to crop at 1.5x...

[babykailan]

5.1D?

Somehow FF+DigicII+12.8mp is the sweet spot.

[Yoke]

5.5D
12MP, DigicIV and new LCD, ah, that's the G-spot

[deslim27]

If they come out with a 7D with low resolution (12MP), built in flash and the rest of the latest bells and whistles. I'm IN!

[unseen]

To the thread starter:
what you named was probably what was going to be the new 5D until nikon overtook canon in just about every department.

[surefire]

Not everyone needs a High-MP FF to print large posters or to crop heavily. To some, low-light capability is more important. The high MP of the MK II takes away a lot of the high-ISO advantage of the larger sensor leading to larger pixels since the pixel density of the Mk II is not much lower than the Mk I. Currently, even if buyers of Mk II do not need the high-MP, they have no choice (unless they move up to the 1D) since the production of Mk Is will soon cease.

If Canon can come up with an updated 12MP FF, it would be a good competitor to the Nikon D700 which seems to be the high-ISO king atm. Unfortunately, this is unlikely since otherwise Canon would have named the existing Mk II the 6D and reserved the 5D Mk II name for the updated 12-MP Mk I.

[KangS]

Originally Posted by lightsabre What if Canon kept the 5D pretty much as it is, same sensor, with minor upgrades in the microlenses or AA filter perhaps...or even just leave it as it is. All they need to do is update the camera with some newer technologies such as: 1) The Sensor Cleaning technology 2) An Upgrade to Digic IV processor (complete with similar features and menu to 50D, provided by the firmware). DIGIC IV should allow the camera to: a) Up the frame rate to 6fps or more... this should be much easier with Digic IV b) Up the ISO to 6400, again DIGIC IV features. I could use DPP from my 50D and clean up 5D jpg files very well. So upping the ISO should be achievable by DIGIC IV c) Up the DRange a bit by software 3) A 3" 920k LCD 4) Live view capability 5) A built in flash? Sell it at around S$ 2.5k (RRP but around $2.3-$2.4 market price) There are rumors about a 6D (or 7D). This could be that camera... Would you buy it? What else would you add to this imaginary camera? If we voice out, perhaps Canon would listen and finally give us what we want and not what they think they need to produce....

Its actually not too far fetched if you look back at what Canon did with the original Rebel camera. The first Sub US$1000/- DSLR. We might be looking at a sub US$1500/- FF DSLR sooner than we think.

They could either choose to tweak the 'old' sensors from the 5D or the 1DsMkII and pop it into a camera body with the featureset and build quality of the 450D and sell it for double the price of the 450D! (A little like an 'upsized' 450D)

It would nicely fall into that price bracket by too! It would turn the DSLR market on its head again, much like when they introduced the original 'Rebel' otherwise known as the EOS 300D.

And it will be at a time when Nikon and Sony has no straightforward answer to it if they down the gauntlet by say March or August '09.

[hazmee]

I want my 5D in some other color instead of black.

[lightsabre]

Originally Posted by babykailan 5.1D? Somehow FF+DigicII+12.8mp is the sweet spot.

More like 5D Mk IN

Digic IV would definitely be nice, since a lot of technology has gone into the image processor. Faster, better NR....etc.