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Canon 5D Mark II Predictions (or 6D)
By admin | December 17, 2007
Knowing (most of) the features of the replacement to the Canon 5D is easy - all you have to do is look at the other new camera releases from Canon this year in the 1D Mark III, the 1Ds Mark III, and the 40D.
The Canon 5D (6D) Mark II will probably have the following features:
- DIGIC III Image Processor
- 14 bid A/D converter (up from 12)
- Ultrasonic Sensor Cleaning System
- 3.0″ TFT LCD display (up from 2.5″) with a resolution of 230,000 pixels
- Improved weather-sealing for the body.
- (3) User Defined Custom Settings.
- Improved menu navigation system (to match the development of the 40D)
The Canon 5D (6D) Mark II specs that we don’t know yet, but can guess at, are:
- 4.5 frames per second (fps) (up from 3 fps)
- 16.1 Mp Sensor (up from 12.8)
Features that the Canon 5D (6D) Mark II will not have are:
- Dedicated mirror lock up (MLU) button. Cry all you want, it just isn’t going to happen.
- Fully weather-sealed body. They have to leave reasons for professionals to go with a 1D series body.
Both the 40D and the 1D Mark III have shown great improvements in noise visible at high ISO ratings, and I expect a similar improvement in the new 5D. It is very exciting that we will see IQ at a greater level than achieved with the 1Ds Mark II (a camera that not long ago cost over $7,000).
I think that Canon could help hold off the onslaught from movement towards the Nikon system (D300 and D3) by offering the 5D Mark II at a lower price point than expected; however, I don’t think they will do this. The 5D Mk II will be introduced at around $3,200 US.
I think the increase in resolution will be of little consequence for most photographers. Face it, most of the pictures taken with digital SLR’s are woefully high on technology and low on tallent. Even for professionals, the biggest need is not more resolution but for higher speed operation and better noise control at high ISO’s. I hope that the new DIGIC III processing helps on both fronts.
Frankly, from a practical perspective, the best feature of the new Canon 5D Mk II will be the sensor cleaning feature. Sensor dust seemed to be an especially big deal for 5D users and is an aspect of digital SLR photography that is in bad need of a solution. Also greatly appreciated will be the easier menu navigation system similar to the 40D. I don’t yet have a grasp on how the Auto ISO features improved on the 40D, but I hope we see similar, if not more substantial improvements for the 5D Mark II.
I hope to see the new Canon 5D Mark II out in February of next year. It will be exciting as the reviews come in, and also exciting to see the prices on the Canon 5D (old version) plummet both new and on Ebay!
Topics: Canon |
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Well, February has come and gone, so it looks like the fall of 2008 will be the release of the Canon 5D Mark II, 6D, 7D, or whatever they decide to name it.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I think that the late release for de 6D or the successor for de 5D has a lot to do with Canon´s flop with the Mark III’s focusing system which required a call back by the company. If it releases an improved 5D, it will have do be a lot better that de 40D and less advanced than the tarnished Mark III.
Currently, Canon most have a great head ache in releasing a camera that may cannibalize the Mark III’s market which has a lot of negative reviews over the Internet. I am a 40D user waiting to jump to the 5D successor as I am waiting for a camera with higher resolution for my work but cost effective for the market where I work. As the number of clients willing to pay high enough prices for my articles and archival work are getting scarce due to the 30% inflation and the slow down of our economy, no one is willing to pay North American or European stock photo prices or productions. So buying a high end camera is not a great business move. So a mid priced camera with high end glasses is the way to go.
I feel that Canon will have to put out the 5D successor but it will never do so at the expense of its higher end market, time will tell us if my feelings are right.
A note to Canon: I was a 25 year user of Nikon who switched because price and technology, but finding errors 1 and 99 coming up in a 7 month old 40D is inexcusable as in Venezuela no one works on Canon gear to make the quick responds one needs when one depends on our gear for our livelihood specially when the 20D`s never had these kind of problems.
Regards
Leopoldo Garcia
Venezuela