Photokina 2012 Predictions / Rumors

So what are you hoping might be announced?

Here’s my list (in no order):

-- Nikon entry level full frame DSLR ✓ D600

-- Canon entry level full frame DSLR ✓ 6D

-- Canon high megapixel full frame DSLR

-- New Sony SLT full frame DSLR ✓ A99

-- Sony mirrorless full frame (Nex?) ✓ RX1

-- Fujifilm FinePix X100 replacement (X200?)
crutchfield.com says the X100 has been discontinued, however, Fujifilm UK says the camera is not discontinued and still in production. And Fujifilm USA basically said the same thing.

-- Fujifilm lower-end and higher-end versions of the X-Pro1. Very excited about these!
Fuji already hinted "the X-Pro1 will be accompanied by at least one less expensive model." And now these images (image 1 & image 2) have surfaced of the entry level X camera, the Fujifilm X-E1.
AND, there are rumors of a higher end X model (full frame?) that might be announced. We'll see. ✓ X-E1

-- Leica compact mirrorless
"Leica bosses have revealed plans to announce a compact system camera at Photokina 2012 in a bid to compete with the likes of Panasonic, Olympus, Sony and Samsung." Source
Perhaps this is the "economical" Leica camera DSLR Magazine reported on Twitter

-- Leica M10 ✓ Leica "M"
Adoramaand BHhave discounts for the M9 / M9-P. Maybe the M10 will be announced.

-- Supposedly Hasselblad is going to make a big announcement, possibly regarding a mirrorless camera featuring a sensor double the size of a FF sensor featuring a CMOS sensor. Source 1 & Source 2
"one of the surprises for the "Kina" is a new model of Hasselblad!" Link
"Hasselblad is planning a rapid expansion of cutting edge capture products and is set to target new imaging markets following the company's acquisition by Ventizz Capital Fund IV, LP, a private equity investor exclusively advised by Swiss- and Germany based Ventizz Capital Partners AG." Source

Edit: I just noticed the Nikon D7000 is being sold with a $200 instant discount. The camera was announced on Sep 15, 2010. Could we be seeing a Nikon D8000?

Of course, there are many more rumors flying around the internet but these are the one's i'm most interested in. What are you hoping might happen?

rjx wrote in post #14912109
-- Supposedly Hasselblad is going to make a big announcement, possibly regarding a mirrorless camera featuring a sensor double the size of a FF sensor featuring a CMOS sensor. Source 1 & Source 2
"one of the surprises for the "Kina" is a new model of Hasselblad!" Link
"Hasselblad is planning a rapid expansion of cutting edge capture products and is set to target new imaging markets following the company's acquisition by Ventizz Capital Fund IV, LP, a private equity investor exclusively advised by Swiss- and Germany based Ventizz Capital Partners AG." Source

Hasselblad's sensors are already twice the size of FF - assuming you're talking about Canon/Nikon/Sony digital FF/35mm - so the size is nothing new. CMOS, though.. (y)


Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing the entry-level full-frame cameras, if they materialize. A full-frame (non-Lecia) mirrorless would be interesting too.
That said, though only camera I'd contemplate picking up is a mirrorless that supports autofocus on EOS-mount lenses - and that camera has already been announced.

I don't see a FF entry level camera. What would you take away from the current 5DMkII or MkIII to make it cheaper? Plastic body maybe but other then that, the MkII is pretty basic already. So strip it of it's features like:
Body = plastic
remove microfocus adjustment
Go back to the 7 point AF of the old old Rebels
Remove highligh priority
Stick in old old 50k shutter from rebels
remove video
remove top lcd
remove second adjustment control
go back to 2" LCD lowres
go back to DigicII - slow frame rate, small buffer

You still want one?

gjl711 wrote in post #14912316
I don't see a FF entry level camera. What would you take away from the current 5DMkII or MkIII to make it cheaper? Plastic body maybe but other then that, the MkII is pretty basic already. So strip it of it's features like:
Body = plastic
remove microfocus adjustment
Go back to the 7 point AF of the old old Rebels
Remove highligh priority
Stick in old old 50k shutter from rebels
remove video
remove top lcd
remove second adjustment control
go back to 2" LCD lowres
go back to DigicII - slow frame rate, small buffer

You still want one?

Take the 5D3 and lower the frame rate to 2 FPS (or even lower).
Cripple it's high ISO performance.
Remove in camera HDR and some other features. (perhaps the top lcd)
Remove 5D3 AF, and add 7D AF.

And then..

Add a brand new sensor that can produce 15 stops of DR between ISO 100 - 400. (+ no banding!)
And finally: Put all of this in a smallish light weight plastic body!

I'd buy two of these entry level cameras.

Echo Johnson wrote in post #14912276
Hasselblad's sensors are already twice the size of FF - assuming you're talking about Canon/Nikon/Sony digital FF/35mm - so the size is nothing new. CMOS, though.. (y)

Yeah but i'm excited because (if it's real) it sounds "to me" like it might be much more affordable than their medium format systems due to the mirrorless part of the rumor?
If they could produce a DSLR-like body with a sensor larger than FF, faster FPS and price it competitively between the 5D3/D800 - D4/1DX, Hassy could regain the wedding photography industry and chip away at the consumer portrait industry and even some commercial photogs that use Canikon.

I'm spending way too much time thinking about gear, especially gear that might not even exist.

I'm hoping for a high MP Canon DSLR with a native ISO range of 50-6400 (3D, 3DX, whatever). I'm expecting disappointment. Disappointment is a entry-level FF.

For Nikon, I'm hoping for a D900/D900E to replace the D800/D800E. The D900/D900E's major new feature? A non-crappy live view.

Seriously, I guess Nikon will do an entry level FF (which is just fine since they already have a high MP camera). The thing Nikon desperately needs is ultra-sharp highly-corrected wide-angle tilt-shifts competitive with the Canon TS-E 17 and 24 II.

I'm also curious about the entry level FF, it would be unusual for canon to release somthing cheaper than the 5D2 that is actually better, yet there isnt much to remove - unless its all build quality and features stuff.

weeatmice wrote in post #14914319
I'm also curious about the entry level FF, it would be unusual for canon to release somthing cheaper than the 5D2 that is actually better, yet there isnt much to remove - unless its all build quality and features stuff.

My feelings exactly. If Canon wants to sell an entry level FF camera, they already have it: the 5D2.

David Arbogast wrote in post #14914345
My feelings exactly. If Canon wants to sell an entry level FF camera, they already have it: the 5D2.

That's my feeling as well. I could,t imagine a camera with fewer features then the MkII selling well.

gjl711 wrote in post #14914493
That's my feeling as well. I could,t imagine a camera with fewer features then the MkII selling well.

David Arbogast wrote in post #14914345
My feelings exactly. If Canon wants to sell an entry level FF camera, they already have it: the 5D2.

I don't see why Canon can't release and "entry" level FF camera that sits between 5D2 and 5D3. With all these what seems to be credible "rumors" about D600, Canon must know that Nikon will definitely release a FF that's cheaper than D800 so they have to respond.

Therefore they (Canon) could:

1) Stop manufacturing 5D2
2) Announce the new "Entry" level FF Camera with features between 5D2 & 5D3. Price it around $2299
3) Drop the price on 5D2 to say $1599 thus letting the remaining 5D2 to sell out.

IMO anything that brings FF sensor to the mass is a good thing, regardless of the brand.

KHAWACHEN wrote in post #14914614
I don't see why Canon can't release and "entry" level FF camera that sits between 5D2 and 5D3. With all these what seems to be credible "rumors" about D600, Canon must know that Nikon will definitely release a FF that's cheaper than D800 so they have to respond.

Therefore they (Canon) could:

1) Stop manufacturing 5D2
2) Announce the new "Entry" level FF Camera with features between 5D2 & 5D3. Price it around $2299
3) Drop the price on 5D2 to say $1599 thus letting the remaining 5D2 to sell out.

IMO anything that brings FF sensor to the mass is a good thing, regardless of the brand.

But what is the main difference between a 5D III and a 5D II? A 61 point AF system vs a 9 point AF system. In other words it's hard to squeeze something in-between when the two are mostly the same except the 5D III's advanced AF system and a few other little odds and ends (built-in level, etc). I'm not disagreeing with you at all...Canon may quite well announce just what you're saying, but it just makes no sense to me because the feature-set difference between the 5D II and 5D III is fairly small as it is.

David Arbogast wrote in post #14914658
But what is the main difference between a 5D III and a 5D II? A 61 point AF system vs a 9 point AF system. In other words it's hard to squeeze something in-between when the two are mostly the same except the 5D III's advanced AF system and a few other little odds and ends (built-in level, etc). I'm not disagreeing with you at all...Canon may quite well announce just what you're saying, but it just makes no sense to me because the feature-set difference between the 5D II and 5D III is fairly small as it is.

Exactly. New AF, slight sensor change and a new digic processor they are the same camera.

I think the 5dii has been replaced. Canon will discontinue it. Make a new entry level FF camera. Digic 5, better af, iso, smaller, lighter, multiple card slots. Look at the new features on a t4i and say a 7d. For the price difference the rebel looks pretty nice. I expect to see a new top crop as well

cepaw wrote in post #14914890
I think the 5dii has been replaced. Canon will discontinue it. Make a new entry level FF camera. Digic 5, better af, iso, smaller, lighter, multiple card slots. Look at the new features on a t4i and say a 7d. For the price difference the rebel looks pretty nice. I expect to see a new top crop as well

I agree, the MkII is being phased out but the camera you are describing is the MkIII. Digic 5, better AF, multiple card slots, so where is the cost savings gonna come from?

Sweet, we might be seeing the D8000. Edited my original post.