Thoughts on Canon's future line up...

[regandarcy]

With Nikon entering the full frame fray and Sony to follow by the end of this year, some of Canon's thunder's been stolen as of late.

But with this obvious shift towards FF heating up, what will the future bring?

I have a theory....

With Canon's latest release of the entry level 1000D dslr...I think Canon is setting up the XXXD line to become the new prosumer crop line.

I think Canon will meld the 40D and the 5D line into one prosumer Full frame line.

Maybe not with the next update but soon after. Perhaps after they release the 6D at photokina and then the 50D will be the last XXD offered in a crop. Just a theory.

I even heard the rumor that the 50D will be full frame and will be released at Photokina in the fall.

I dunno about that...but I am looking forward to see what Canon does with the 5D update.

Anyway, I think the writing is on the wall. The shift towards Full Frame will heat up over the next couple of years to include both the prosumer and the pro lines. The 1D pro line will still be the creme of the crop feature wise...but they will phase out the 1.3 sensor and the 5D and 40D will either combine as a FF prosumer line...or they will both become FF with the 5D filling in the mid range pro line and the 40D filling in the low end prosumer line.

Any thoughts? :-)

[rexspangle]

now that I just pulled a muscle in my brain trying to sort that one out.. :D

I think that all dslr's will just inevitably become full frame. However, there are still some people that will probably always want a camera that performs like a crop body so I think the option to turn it on/off will be a common feature...

[Stickman]

regandarcy,

I think Canon may redevelop their lineup like you suggest. Its the way of flowing with the market.

Canon really doesn't care if they label something with a XXXXD, XXXD, XXD or XD. What they care about is that we buy them. If new labeling/ packaging sells, they will do it.

[ptomsu]

While I am confident that FF will become more important over the next years, it is also obvious that Crop (1.6) will stay as a compact an cheap alternative. Many photographers just want that as a replacement for their P&S and if you look how perfect the 450D design already is and what you get for this money, the direction is clear.

[davidinjp]

Canon has yet to provide guidance which indicates they are doing anything whatsoever. Even Apple leaks future upgrade plans into their stock guidance. Thus it is difficult to predict Canon's future.

I suspect they may be leaning towards milking the P&S and consumer level DSLR market. Lower profit margins but much more volume than prosumer or pro DSLR markets. So I remain unconvinced that Canon will remain a long term technology leader in the prosumer to pro DSLR market. Another brand may indeed be better long term investment for potential new DSLR buyers. This is true for buyers as of today anyway.

I find myself marveling at the pace of innovation over at Nikon and Sony and the others much more often then pondering if Canon has long-term plans to remain in the pro DSLR market...

[ptomsu]

Canon has yet to provide guidance which indicates they are doing anything whatsoever. Even Apple leaks future upgrade plans into their stock guidance. Thus it is difficult to predict Canon's future.

I suspect they may be leaning towards milking the P&S and consumer level DSLR market. Lower profit margins but much more volume than prosumer or pro DSLR markets. So I remain unconvinced that Canon will remain a long term technology leader in the prosumer to pro DSLR market. Another brand may indeed be better long term investment for potential new DSLR buyers. This is true for buyers as of today anyway.

I find myself marveling at the pace of innovation over at Nikon and Sony and the others much more often then pondering if Canon has long-term plans to remain in the pro DSLR market...

Well, for how many years there was NOTHING coming from Nikon and Sony did not even exist in the DSLR market?

I think because of Nikon being finally able to jump on the FF train and Sony to promise a FF DSLR does not mean that Canon will give up their leadership. They fought too long and too hard for that position. Just wait and see what will come in the next 6-12 months :D:cool::lol:

[davidinjp]

Well, for how many years there was NOTHING coming from Nikon and Sony did not even exist in the DSLR market?

...Just wait and see what will come in the next 6-12 months :D:cool::lol:

Well history is history. The now is about what have you done for me lately. And the future is about innovation. Waiting another 6-12 months to start releasing innovative new sensor technology would be a mistake in my opinion. Why not release now and meet or beat the innovation of other companies.

But... I do hope you are right. :cool:

[sth_]

I think that the two-digit-line won't be transitioned to FF, at least not in the next few years. But I think these cameras will move a bit upwards in terms of features.

XXXXD - Entry-level cameras
XXXD - Pro-sumer cameras, might see some higher-class features in future iterations
XXD - "Pro" APS-C line with weather sealing, high continous shooting rate etc.
5D MkX - FF version of the XXd
1D(s) MkX - As usual but 1D becomes FF as well.

[JX]

davidinjp wrote:
Well history is history. The now is about what have you done for me lately. And the future is about innovation. Waiting another 6-12 months to start releasing innovative new sensor technology would be a mistake in my opinion. Why not release now and meet or beat the innovation of other companies.

It is not wise to release a product before it is thoroughly tested. Ask some of the 1DMK3 owners who had to return their camera for repair.

I would rather wait, and buy a camera that is not going to have problems. Yes, Canon needs to put Nikon back in its place, and I hope it will be soon, however, not at the cost of proper R&D and quality control.

[Abdee]

1D(s) MkX - As usual but 1D becomes FF as well.

Dunno about that. Even 1D MkII could have been made FF, but probably feedback from (pro) users was in favor of 1.3 crop. Reporters had speed, better IQ and "longer tele lenses" and those were features they care about.

[bigcountry]

stop thinking, i can smell the eggs burning.