Would you buy a 12 MP APS-C Camera?

[Muggles]

12 MP APS-C Sensor

ISO 100-3200 + ISO 6400 (H)
Real ISO 3200 slightly cleaner than Fake ISO 3200 (H) on 30D.
3" LCD
Sensor auto cleaning
Auto ISO
User customizable Focus Offset for up to 20 lenses
11-pt AF system with 3 cross type points

Noise Level is very similar to 400D
Like the 400D & Nikon bodies, sensor is 1/3 stop less sensitive than previous EOS dSLRs

EOS 40D
P1399 Body Only

Yeay, or Nay?


.

[col4bin]

I would think that cramming 12mp onto an APS-C sensor would make noise control quite difficult.

[Mac]

If it was as you described...yes...I am looking to replace my 300D now, and have to wait to get the cash saved anyway. But I will admit, I am getting more and more tempted to just jump to the 5D...:D

[Muggles]

I would think that cramming 12mp onto an APS-C sensor would make noise control quite difficult.


True. Unfortunately, I believe the successor to the 30D would inevitably be 12 megapixels... even at the cost of high ISO performance.

I think the 10 megapixel wars (2006-7) are over. The D200, A100, 400D, D80, K10D, E510, E410, and D40x have come and gone. An EOS 40D coming into that war 2 years too late seems anticlimactic. For better or for worse, the EOS 40D will probably usher in a new war between noisy 12 MP "high amateur" cameras from Canon, Nikon, and Sony.

Is there any doubt that Nikon would pack at least 12 MP into the D300? We're talking about a company that has already crammed 12 megapixels into their D2x APS-C sensor way back in 2004. And (marketing-driven) Sony's long-awaited "high amateur" dSLR is certainly going to need more megapixels to distinguish itself from the aging A100. Historically, Nikon and Sony have had no problems putting noisy dSLRs in the market. I think Canon will be forced to stoop at their level to compete. I think what we'll see is a lot more Noise Reduction at the software and hardware level. Even RAW files would have some irreversible NR applied to it before it's saved to the memory card. In fact, I suspect that is already the case with Nikon cameras today.


.

[ScottE]

I think it is quite possible. The Nikon D2Xs is 12 mp with almost the same size sensor and does very well, especially at lower ISO settings. Canon can usually control noise better at higher ISO and technology had advanced since the D2Xs was introduced.

The camera would probably be worth an upgrade from my 20D. That mean I could retire the D60 from it back up roll and go all EF-S. Now if they would just add some longer EF-S lenses I would be happy.

[DocFrankenstein]

The camera would probably be worth an upgrade from my 20D. That mean I could retire the D60 from it back up roll and go all EF-S. Now if they would just add some longer EF-S lenses I would be happy.
I'll buy your 20D then.

I might get a new camera, but it is not going to be because of megapixels. I want a good buffer and AF.

Maybe a 1Ds will suit my needs better:confused:

[calicokat]

Sounds like a winner

[Padawan Dad]

8mp's is fine for me. As a wedding photographer it allows me more space on a card, and keeps my workflow... well... flowing. 12mp's would slow things down, and really doesn't improve much over 8mp's.

I'd buy a Mark IIn before buying a 10+ MP camera... which I will be doing so, when the Mark III comes out.

[ScottE]

With large CF cards and hard drives getting cheaper all the time the difference in file size is getting to be less important.

[Headcase650]

Looks good, the only thing missing is weather sealing, the option to switch the pop-up flash to manual control, and wireless commander mode for ettl slaves.

[Padawan Dad]

With large CF cards and hard drives getting cheaper all the time the difference in file size is getting to be less important.
As people become more educated about MegaPixels, they are also getting to be less important, unless you are printing posters/murals. And no matter how much space you have, it still takes longer to upload larger files than smaller files.

[sandpiper]

Yes, if they can come up with what you describe.

However, I feel IQ would be compromised by cramming 12mp on a 1.6 crop sensor. Unless you regularly make prints that fill a wall, or need to make drastic crops of your images, 8-10mp is more than enough. Any more only helps with 'bragging rights' down the pub as everyone seems to think that the camera with most pixels is the best (which is why Canon would offer that many on a crop camera).

I have ordered a 1D III and I don't care a fig that it has 'only' 10mp (and that on a significantly larger sensor). The IQ is fantastic and that is what is important to me. If it had more pixels I doubt that I would want it, as the IQ wouldn't be good enough to justify my spending £3,000 on it.

Canon seem to be fighting a mp war on the consumer bodies but, thankfully, not on the pro bodies where they are keeping them sensible and keeping quality as the priority.

[deeeez]

Folks I've got to tell you that i'm one of those people who is hoping to to switch to the upcoming 40D. My main reason for switching from Nikon is 1. noise performance and 2. glass.

If the upcoming 40d/50d (whatever) is on par with Nikon in noise performance, then I have no reason to really switch.. I shoot with a D70 and I've managed to print 8x10s with no problems. I've also had some tightly cropped shots, and while I can sense the limitations of a 6mp resolution for cropping, I would never want to sacrifice high ISO performance for more MP.

[RClough]

Sure. Why not?

[Tumak]

Black, Silver, or Navy Blue? Mauve, maybe? Next will be 5D or whatever is around when 30d starts getting old.

[Glenn NK]

12 MP APS-C Sensor

1. ISO 100-3200 + ISO 6400 (H)
2. Real ISO 3200 slightly cleaner than Fake ISO 3200 (H) on 30D.
3. 3" LCD
4. Sensor auto cleaning
5. Auto ISO
6. User customizable Focus Offset for up to 20 lenses
7. 11-pt AF system with 3 cross type points
8. Noise Level is very similar to 400D
9. Like the 400D & Nikon bodies, sensor is 1/3 stop less sensitive than previous EOS dSLRs

EOS 40D
P1399 Body Only

Yeay, or Nay?
.

Let me see - what do I gain?

1. One more stop - is it any good - clean?

2. Cleaner ISO 3200? That's good, but I seldom use even 1600. Nope for me.

3. 3" LCD? Really what we need is a six inch LCD - or having the histogram fill the existing full size of the LCD, not 1/4 of it. Otherwise nope.

4. Sensor cleaning - HAS NOT been proven effective on 400D (I've personally responded to about twelve pleas for help from 400D owners). Definitely nope.

5. Auto ISO - NO. The noise versus ISO chart for the 30D give the best ISO's as 160, 320, 640, not some value the camera thinks is best. Nope.

6. User customizeable focus offsets - apparently don't work too well for zooms lenses - 3/4 of my lenses are zooms. Nope.

7. 11 AF point system? Could be useful on occasion.

8. Noise similar to the 400D - is it better than the current 30D? If not, it's a dud.

9. 1/3 less sensitive than 400D? I was hoping for "improvements" in the next body not regression.

Conclusion - a lot of NOPES.

Keeping the 30D, and maybe getting another before some of the improvements render it impotent. Maybe even a 5D Mark II if they don't screw it up with sensor cleaning.

If anyone thinks the next models are always better, think of the latest in the G-series. It can't put out Raw files. Or the 10MP P&S cuties that don't have any image quality at all.

Progress is supposed to go forward.

[DrPablo]

The D2x is a legitimate pro camera at 12 MP / APS-C.

And it's pretty old by now -- I bet it would be easier to control noise with newer technology. Even Nikon's newer stuff like the D200 are much better at noise control than the D2x.