D1 and D1S?

Another interesting interpretation of what is supposed to be a real leak (shortened version) from FM forums. People wonder if Edwin Puts broke the NDA (non disclosure agreement):

Here’s my short ‘interpretation’ of the leak by Edwin Puts, which I understand to be very close to reality I think he has broken his NDA (or someone has)

What he calls the D1 doesn’t have the 5D’s sensor (too slow in data transfer for more than the 3 FPS in the 5D) but does have a much faster FF sensor of similar resolution to the 5D by using a next generation CMOS design. This has larger micro-lenses (as per 400D) and modified electrics to reduce the noise and increased sensitivity at a hardware level allowing higher ISO at acceptable noise levels.

When Edwin refers to the “mysterious comment that the 1D has no memory buffer”, this is not quite true. It does in fact have an very sophisticated memory buffer. What it does have (thanks to the speed of DIGIC III) is the ability to write unlimited continuous JPEG at full frame rates as long as the memory card transfer rate is fast enough. Ideal for sports / action shooters. The buffer kicks in for slower memory cards or thing like RAW + JPEG etc.

When Edwin states that “Canons statement that from now on there will be no more 1.3 crop sensors” I understand that the missing item that Canon will be emphasising is their dynamic crop mode which delivers the equivalent of the 1.25 crop from the FF sensor on demand for that extra sense of reach….

Similarly what Edwin calls the “D1s” is a next generation low noise sensor etc like the “D1” above but with much higher resolution and all the features to be a serious challenge to MF (which is why Edwin is excited)… As you would expect, noise performance while very good, is not quite up to the new “D1” as the area of each pixel sensor is almost half that of the “D1” However the ISO 3200 is very usable indeed (think similar to the 400D at 1600.

And yes, my “understanding” is that Canon have tried very hard to make these two cameras have everything that could be keeping a top end film photographer from moving to digital…. You can expect a range of accessories / grips etc to match..

Why the "delay" of 1Ds mkIII

I've found this on FM, could be the reasons for "delaying"(there really is no timeframe for 1Ds mkIII) the announcement of Canon 1Ds mkIII:

We do know the elements of what CAnon are working on to put in future cameras.
What we don't have the info on is which are ready, but we can perhaps make some estimates - or guesses!
1.OLED -Canon said sometime in 2007. likely this will come in, but will not make much difference in likely early applications - just reduces power drain from the present LCD as technology 2 is unlikely to be ready
2.EVF instead of OVF - a decent screen for this at the moment costs $20,000 - it seems doubtful Canon have cracked this - perhaps in five years - potentially revolutionary.
3.Better batteries - AFAIK they have only just figured out how to make Lion batteries which are likely to meet Canon's specs for pro use - good shelf life, temperature operating range and so on:
http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/18054/page1/
http://www.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=17653&ch=energy
This would really make a major difference to cameras - it would mean that tehy could re-package the 1 series into something much more compact if they want to.
Unless Canon have stolen a March on everyone else it could be a year until such batteries are ready - but actually, if Canon wanted to, they are under no pressure at all to bring out the new 1 series - they dominate the market with both the 1DsII and the 1DII
Fuel cells, micro-turbines and so on are still likely a long ways off.
4. Foveon-like sensor - last I heard it was not being thought of for this iteration, but could explain waiting instead of releasing a 1 series last fall.
5. Better AF and so on - a no-brainer

The really urgent one for replacement would seem to me to be the 30D, which is not selling well against the Nikons

Announcements on Feb 23rd?

I've read on numerous pages and forums, that Canon is briefing the dealers regarding new models on February 23rd. So I hope we'll see some leaks right after the briefing, at least on which new models will be announced, but if the complete specifications on the models leaks, that would be even better.

This information is supposed to come from a reliable source, so let's hope we won't have to wait untill PMA to get the news on the models that going to be release in the spring.

40D rumours

I've found this on FM forum:

Now, while I can't argue against your logic, it is pretty safe to say that the likelyhood of the 40D coming out this year is so high that it borders on certainty. 30D sales are hurting, that has been shown several times already. The competition has surpassed it on all sides, most importantly the pixel count. A potential xxD user switching brands hurts more than just the loss of the sale of one body, it will also hurt in lost lens sales.

The 30D is still using the same sensor as the 20D (as far as I know, save a few tiny tweaks maybe) so that particular sensor technology is definately 2.5 years old. Ample time to complete the bump to a new resolution.

I see two scenarios: One is that Canon does the disappointing stop-gap trick and simply catches up with the rest, 10.2 mpixel CMOS bayer sensor, and it will leave it at that. The other one is that Canon gets its act together and jumps ahead in terms of technology. This could be going to APS-H, with all the associated benefits and, admittedly, drawbacks, or it could be stepping away from a traditional Bayer sensor to a TrueColor/Foveon sensor. Either way, it would leave the current 10 Mpixel dSLR competition in the dust.

1Ds mkIII rumors

I've found this on the northlight site, especially interesting stuff regarding Canon 1Ds mkIII:

From Austria, 30D price cuts ... and 1Ds3 info from Germany at http://www.dslr-forum.de/showpost.php?p=1568883&postcount=14

A rough translation (thanks)
"The 22 MP [of the MkIII] include the pixels not used for the actual picture. The effective number of pixels of the 1Ds Mark III is 20,67MP. The 40d has an effective pixelcount of 10,32 MP, that means a little more than the 400D."

Is this the TrueColor, mentioned a while back (9th Jan)?

A comment on the FM rumour thread adds more to this - not your usual pixels...
"...the 1 series is switchable between 2/3 and 3/4 with supported lenses. (Will not shoot 3/4 with unrecognized lenses unless disabled in custom function). Both formats make a 20mp file. The sensor has 22mp. Some lenses work fine. Some with internal baffling don't work at 3/4. Some are borderline, but will not be recognized as 3/4 capable. Canon didn't tell the non-Canon test shooters that it has full color pixels."
and "They're special because each pixel is full color - even the 40D"

From Japan a Mk3 rumour: http://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/00500210737/#5962591

According to a comment I received from Japan (thanks), the original post suggests:
"1Ds Mark II successor would be released as having the dust reduction, 22MP sensor, and, larger LCD. The price is around 900,000 yen that is almost the same price as the 1Ds Mark II from his friend that is a professional camera man. The release timing is May. "

Some more info from Australia (thanks) suggesting that Canon might be offloading stock? Ted's Camera stores are offering a A$750 rebate on the 1Dmk2n ending on the 28th of February. Good to see they've added the 1Ds mk2 to their line up... "New" ;-)

Superbowl came ... and went without any announcement, so it's all eyes on the run up to PMA which opens on Thursday 8th of March, although 'Press Day' is on the 7th. Current Press Releases are listed at the PMA 2007 site.

Keep an eye on all your favourite forums for threads based on the 'I saw someone in the press corps at Superbowl using a one series camera with a 3" lcd'...

As well as built in WiFi for the new camera, several people are asking about GPS? I actually used my old hand held GPS the other day taking some photos in various muddy fields for a civil engineering company for a new road scheme - one of the few times I've had a genuine use for it in three years of using my 1Ds. Not to say it wouldn't be of use to some, but I can think of far more advances I'd like to see in a new One series before built-in GPS :-)

Another long term wish list component that regularly surfaces is the use of a Pellicle mirror, such as was in the EOS-1N RS. Without the need for the mirror to flip up and down the camera is faster and quieter - not a feature I'd expect soon, although Olympus have had the 'liveview' system for the E-330 for a while.

Canon is going to be the biggest exhibitor at PMA

Unlike at last Photokina, where Kodak had the largest exhibition place, Canon will have (by far) the largest exhibition place at PMA.I know it's their 70th anniversary and 25th anniversary of EOS system, but if they didn't intend to show at least a couple of new cameras, I don't think they'd go that big (as they didn't at Photokina).

Here's the link to the general floorplan of 1st flor. As you can see it's at least twice as big as of the closest competitors.

30D and 1Ds mkII are overdue

If you visit the calumet.photo.co.uk site, you'll see that 30D and 1Ds mkII are both overdue from vendor. I've read that this is happening on lots of sites world wide (Jessops etc).


Here's the printscreen from the UK Calumet site.