Newbie Questions

[coeng]

Does anyone have a link to a site that contains information about the genealogy of Canon bodies (SLR and DSLR) and lenses?

Also, why does Canon use "Mark II", "Mark IIn" in some of their models. Is that like a suped-up model or something?

[fortinaa]

No link to a line-up of bodies... But as far as the Mark I, Mark II, and Mark IIN go, they seem to be used to signify small upgrades in a particular model that isn't major enough to warrant a new product name. So, if a camera body gets a few software upgrades and ergonomic enhancements, but does not change sensor size or have a complete body overhaul, it just gets a mark II or IIN designation. Another example is the 85mm 1.2L lens that was just announced as a Mark II. As far as I have read, they haven't really changed the optics of the lens, but did change to a newer style focus motor for faster focusing. Essentially, it is the same lens other than that, so they call it a Mark II.

[coeng]

No link to a line-up of bodies... But as far as the Mark I, Mark II, and Mark IIN go, they seem to be used to signify small upgrades in a particular model that isn't major enough to warrant a new product name. So, if a camera body gets a few software upgrades and ergonomic enhancements, but does not change sensor size or have a complete body overhaul, it just gets a mark II or IIN designation. Another example is the 85mm 1.2L lens that was just announced as a Mark II. As far as I have read, they haven't really changed the optics of the lens, but did change to a newer style focus motor for faster focusing. Essentially, it is the same lens other than that, so they call it a Mark II.

I get it. Its like getting a service pack to an operating system.

So it goes from 1st release to Mark II to Mark IIn, right?
Why not Mark I, then Mark II, then Mark III, etc...

What about the disctinction between the EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds. Significant price difference.

[PacAce]

Does anyone have a link to a site that contains information about the genealogy of Canon bodies (SLR and DSLR) and lenses?

Also, why does Canon use "Mark II", "Mark IIn" in some of their models. Is that like a suped-up model or something?

Have a look-see here:

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/index.html.

From what I can gather, they've been using the roman numerals and the "N" designation for a while (with the film bodies) but I noticed that the "mark" designation first come out with the 1DmkII (unless I missed something).

Based on the history of the EOS 1 film camera, we may very well see a "V" version of the 1D in the future. :)

[jjonsalt]

http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/