Canon buying Exmor sensors from Sony, for future DSLRs

Will this ever happen? Lets look at the 3 main reasons to why it should happen.

• Let's face it. Sony is miles ahead when it comes to sensor tech. Denying this is just pure ignorance.
  
• Canon could finally match Nikon when it comes to DR.
  
• Canon's customers would be very happy with this.
  
• No more DR-envy from the Canon shooters.
  
• Canon steals what is arguably Nikon's biggest advantage.
  

Ivann wrote in post #14302652
Will this ever happen? Lets look at the 3 main reasons to why it should happen.

• Let's face it. Sony is miles ahead when it comes to sensor tech. Denying this is just pure ignorance.
  
• Canon could finally match Nikon when it comes to DR.
  
• Canon's customers would be very happy with this.
  
• No more DR-jealousy from the Canon shooters.
  
• Canon steals what is arguably Nikon's biggest advantage.
  

Why hasn't this happend already?

The only reason I can think of is pride.

Canon is an old school japanese company, and I think they would rather perform harakiri than admiting they have "failed" with their sensor devolopment.

That Exmor sensor build is pretty awesome IMO...

Ricku wrote in post #14302657
The only reason I can think of is pride.

Canon is an old school japanese company, and I think they would rather perform harakiri than admiting they have "failed" with their sensor devolopment.

Pride was what came to mind as well..

I was also thinking pride. But seriously, can it be that simple?

I mean.. Pride blocking the way for better cameras?

Misleading topic names such as this should be against forum rules...

Ivann wrote in post #14302669
I was also thinking pride. But seriously, can it be that simple?

I mean.. Pride blocking the way for better cameras?

People do funny things.. but eventually, money will talk. If they want to avoid profit loss, and falling behind.. they will have to do something...

Or maybe, just maybe, the folks at canon are happy with their sensor tech and don't want to farm it out for the exact same thing as every other brand..... It just so happens that they switched positions with this latest round of camera

Sandpoint wrote in post #14302678
People do funny things.. but eventually, money will talk. If they want to avoid profit loss, and falling behind.. they will have to do something...

I'd like to think that, but look at the sales of the 5D3. Lack of sensor improvement and the overpricing that follows, doesn't really stop it from flying off the shelves.

Anyway, I truly hope that Canon will put some serious effort into their own sensor development. Either that or just buy the Exmor.

Ricku wrote in post #14302690
I'd like to think that, but look at the sales of the 5D3. Lack of sensor improvement and the overpricing that follows, doesn't really stop it from flying off the shelves.

Anyway, I truly hope that Canon will put some serious effort into their own sensor development. Either that or just buy the Exmor.

Again, people do funny things and don't always think before their impulses

I too hope that Canon will pick it up.. New advances are always good, and fun.

Ricku wrote in post #14302657
Canon is an old school japanese company, and I think they would rather perform harakiri than admiting they have "failed" with their sensor devolopment.

Sound a bit stereotype to me .
Japanese companies have a long history of following in the footsteps of the technology of others eg Yamaha .
They are a business and therefore profit driven .
May just be a simple as Sony don't wish to part with a cash cow .

Ricku wrote in post #14302657
The only reason I can think of is pride.

Canon is an old school japanese company, and I think they would rather perform harakiri than admiting they have "failed" with their sensor devolopment.

Aha! Rumors are true then that Nikon is a Thai company!...

Seriously, each company probably has its reasons and they are all probably good, sound business reasons.

I don't have any inside information, but...

If I were Sony and wanted to venture past the P&S (where again my main competitor is Canon... coming to think of it the same goes for camcorders...) why would I offer Canon my competitive advantage?

I would enter into an agreement with Nikon, to fight my war, until my technology is good and ready for my own application of the EXMOR.

If I were Nikon, I would gladly accept that role. Possibly, if I could, I would insert a clause in the contract preventing Canon getting the EXMOR or the EXMOR technology until it is obsolete... Just sayin'...

If I were Canon, and I already have my own technology development on a next generation sensor, why would I surrender any ground to any competitor by adopting their technology and paying them for it?

I am the king of the hill, my old sensor technology can fight a few more days, I am ahead on everything else but the sensors and I outsell the other two combined... When I am good and ready, I'll open my cards. Ricku can jump through hoops, damn if I care...

Sandpoint wrote in post #14302678
People do funny things.. but eventually, money will talk. If they want to avoid profit loss, and falling behind.. they will have to do something...

If Canon felt like they were falling behind and loosing profits, and there was the possibility of people loosing their jobs..... I can guarantee Canon's R&D working 24/7 until the problems are solved.

MakisM1 wrote in post #14302804
Seriously, each company probably has its reasons and they are all probably good, sound business reasons.

It's called MAS...

Mutually Assured Sales
AKA Collusion

Both companies make more money because the other exists. I'm sure they both have committees that come to agreement over who's going to have the edge next year, and invest their personal finances accordingly. I'm also quite certain both agree on what each others MSRPs will be and price gouge accordingly. :P

Canon was miles ahead of everyone else for years with their sensor technology. Their shoice to do it in-house, design their own sensors and processors, to build their own manufacturing lines, and their commitment to using CMOS in DSLRs were all great decisions that put them way out in the lead from around 2000 through around 2007 or 2008. Canon was the leading edge of DSLR tech... everyone else was following their lead. That was a pretty long run as "leader of the pack" in the world of cameras.

Then everyone else copied them, switched to CMOS after they'd taken CCDs as far as they could and were tired of getting skunked by Canon, jumped onto the full frame bandwagon that Canon first proved possible and viable.... Even today, only a few camera makers do it in-house (Sony cameras with Sony sensors). Most still outsource and are dependent upon others for their sensors (example: Nikon using Sony sensors).

You can be certain that Canon has new technology in the works, in the pipeline for future products. There's no way they are simply going to sit on their laurels and let the digital camera market slip away to the competition. Heck, Canon announced a 50MP sensor five or six years ago... It's probably in use in satellites now, or other high end applications. I bet they've come a long way since then.

It isn't so much that Canon has slacked off, just that the others have scratched and scrambled really hard to catch up (to survive, actually) and in some ways have managed to surpass Canon.... right now.

But it's like a game of leapfrog... Expect Canon to one up them sometime in the not-too-distant future.

Keep in mind, as a corportion overall, Canon is one of the biggest players by a huge margin. Sony is really their only rival in scale, the only company that has a similar or slightly larger footprint. Most of the other camera manufacturers don't even come close to these two.

One thing you can be sure... There is no way that Canon will start buying sensors from Sony. It just ain't gonna happen. Canon has no reason to do so, many reasons not to do so since they have their own manufacturing facilities.