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Lightstream
11th of April 2006 (Tue), 08:30
I've continued this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=157640) here as it seems more appropriate to discuss rumors and speculation in their designated section of the forum. :)

if Canon sticks to their 18 month release cycle it should be replaced in around 6 months. Because of past experience (20D - 350D, 10D - 300D) it will probably be not much of an upgrade, except perhaps a bigger screen and a few extra features. (because the 30D wasn't much of a 20D upgrade)

Leo
One thing seems likely, no sensor replacement. Introducing a 10MP sensor would be absolutely unthinkable and encroach on both the 30D and 5D's market share. Imagine the headlines.. "Canon's Entry Level Beats Midrange Pro Cameras" or something similar. Nope, not gonna happen.

It then becomes even more interesting because there is very limited physical space on a 350D to pack in a 2.5" LCD. I measured, it was tough. It would definitely cost them the status LCD (the segmented numeric display with icons displaying shutter speed, aperture, etc.). So where's the status display going? Unless the 350D's replacement is about to get fat again. Even as a 20D owner I like the 350D's substantial decrease in weight, you can 'feel' it is a lot lighter. Of course there are many other things I love about the 20D anyway.

It's difficult to imagine how Canon could release a meaningful upgrade to the 350D without compromising the 30D or the 5D. I'm assuming this because it doesn't make sense to sacrifice their higher end from a business perspective.

About the only things I can think of - ISO 3200 via custom function, Picture Styles (definitely!), tweaked AF software (but still retains 7 points), ISO in viewfinder, ISO in 1/3rd stop.. you'll notice this is beginning to sound a lot like the 30D's improvement list (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-7891-8214)?

The one common thing I notice about all of the above is that it's fairly easy to do them all via software compared to re-rolling hardware. Quite concievable they could give us some 30D-style upgrades but nothing tremendous to write home about.

Spot metering and upgraded mirror seem possible, but unlikely. While some pros and amateurs can deliver awesome results with the 350D in their hands, again from a business perspective it seems worthwhile to move these users up to the next level. Same with the pentaprism vs pentamirror. I LOVE the real prism's brightness and clarity, but that'll make the camera bigger.

Even more radical - no more 18 month cycle?

Or is Canon finally going to release that super-cut-down-reduced-price DSLR to pull Nikon's rug from underneath them? Though at $700 for a new XT body at B&H that sure doesn't give them much room to maneuver - $499 MSRP with $400 street? Byebye P&S market...

OK, I'd better stop thinking, my head's gonna explode. :confused: :rolleyes: :mrgreen:

lakiluno
11th of April 2006 (Tue), 18:21
lol

I would think a larger screen - the 350D is aimed at the rich first time user/outgrown P&Ser (and to a lesser extent, the poor wants a 20D-er (aka me)). A larger screen attracts people. Nowadays, now that everyone has a P&S, people judge your camera on its 9inch screen (and believe me, some P&S's are simply 1 giant screen).

so a larger screen is a must.

probably same sensor as the 350d - after all, even in the megapixel wars P&S market they have stopped upping resolution too much. From past experience, the new sensor is introduced in the more expensive xxD first. (this means people buy it before a cheaper similarily specced camera comes out :D)

Probably stick with the small body, though getting a screen on there will be a problem.
http://www.photoscala.de/bilder/Canon-EOS-350D-Back.jpg
Looking at the back, there is room for more screen, but it would mean moving or dumping the small LCD. That isn't as proposterous (sp?) as you might think - technology nowadays means that you could even have a sort of "split" LCD, with the top 3rd of the 2.5 incher staying lit up while the rest turns off. Its not been done yet, but its possible :D

ISO 3200 - perhaps. But they may cripple it, and leave ISO 1600 and the knowledgable users RAW exposure trick.

As for breaking free of the dev cycle - it may happen. Many people have speculated that canon are close to a completely new generation of sensor - perhaps it'll be in the 400D (unlikely), but it may be they hold off on a new camera and then release a 30D replacement in a year (come on, its not like anyone abandoned a 20D to buy one, and they don't cost any more than a 20D did) rather than 18 months.

But who knows - Canons rather like Apple, they don't tell you 10 years in advance (unlike MS, who tell you about Longhorn/Vista before they've finished fixing XP :D)

Leo

Lightstream
12th of April 2006 (Wed), 03:38
Ahhh, a new sensor - that'll be interesting. I want higher dynamic range. ;)

Interesting thoughts about the LCD. It would suck more battery power (they admitted that with the 30D and its bigger LCD), and the XT's got smaller batteries, but that's for Canon to work out - they'll have to come up with some power management or other.

whiskaz
5th of May 2006 (Fri), 15:35
Honestly, I was a P&S user with a nice Sony cam and large LCD screen. It didn't take long to get past that (once you really get into the DSLR world) and stop using the LCD for anything but a (small) exposure guage. Mine's almost always in info mode. A larger LCD screen wouldn't be bad, don't get me wrong and it might sell cameras, but it won't do anyone much good, really. I always thought I had some great shots on the Sony, load them up and ahh! blur! Everything looks great on a dinky LCD :) So eventually you learn to stop trusting it for that purpose. It's not like you can shoot with a DSLR like a P&S either.

Jackal
6th of May 2006 (Sat), 11:04
lakiluno, don't get so worked up about ISO 3200. If you wanted...your 350D can do ISO 3200 if you're shooting RAW.

-Set ISO 1600
-Set exposure compensation one stop lower(doubles shutter speed but underexposes shot)
-Raise exposure back up one stop during RAW editing.

Essentially this is ISO 3200. Achieves the same thing and you get the same amount of noise as ISO 3200.

I guess you can even do ISO 6400 if you do it two stops. But that's so much noise it hurts.

lakiluno
8th of May 2006 (Mon), 15:58
I said that - "and leave ISO 1600 and the knowledgable users RAW exposure trick"

:D

Leo

petrolhead
17th of May 2006 (Wed), 08:42
http://www.pellis.co.uk/temp/image4.jpg

:lol:

farrukh
18th of May 2006 (Thu), 03:48
http://www.pellis.co.uk/temp/image4.jpg

:lol:

:eek:

lakiluno
18th of May 2006 (Thu), 16:23
:confused:

(ps: I don't think the 2 screens would be able to be so close)

Tee Why
19th of May 2006 (Fri), 12:16
The XT was announce 2/05, so keeping with the 18month cycle, I'd expect the XT's replacement to be announce Aug 06 and on sale by Sep/Oct of 06. Wow, how time flies.
Looking at how the 300D and the 350D have been in respect to features, I'd expect the following:
Price: to be about the same or a bit cheaper, as others are undercutting Canon's price, e.g. Nikon D50
Body: cont to be plastic as has 300D and XT
AF points: 7 vs 30D's 9
Viewfinder: Should include ISO like all the new cameras.
Metering: no spot, just like before.
ISO: 1600 max. I think it's their goal to seperate it from upper lines by limiting ISO on the Rebel line. I also can't see them putting in ISO by 1/3 stops as this is an entry level camera, but who knows.
Shutter life: 50,000 like before
LCD: I'd guess 2.5inch to keep up with everyone else.
Sensor: probably the same 8MP one
Processing: Digic II, I don't think the Reble has ever had a newer processing program before the 20D/30D line.
Picture Style: In keeping with all the newer lines.
Body build: I'd think a little bit bigger with so many complaining about the thin grip, but who knows on this one.
Color: Silver and black

RonTyler
27th of May 2006 (Sat), 14:34
Some people are never happy with what they have already ! The XT350D Rebel I have is perfect just the way it is. Best digital SLR on the market as far as I am concerned. You can tell the difference between it and the more exspensive models. When is enough , enough.

msvirick
14th of July 2006 (Fri), 20:58
Some people are never happy with what they have already ! The XT350D Rebel I have is perfect just the way it is. Best digital SLR on the market as far as I am concerned. You can tell the difference between it and the more exspensive models. When is enough , enough.

Yes, yes I am one of them. I have a 10D and like a foolish man, itching to buy a 5D, though 10 D is just suiting me fine.