Canon digital backs?

This has perplexed me for a while, and I haven't found any threads on it with a cursory search, so I'll toss this out to the groupmind here:

Why has Canon not ventured into the medium format arena with a digital back?

As has been discussed here repeatedly, Canon develops imaging sensors in-house, whereas most other competitors contract with Sony. Maybe I'm missing something, but with Canon's brand recognition, I'm baffled as to why they haven't leveraged their way into the MF back market to compete directly with PhaseOne, Mamiya Leaf, Hasselblad... It's not like Canon would have to develop an entire medium format shooting system, but rather scale up their existing sensor technology. Allowing for the fact that the digital back market isn't a particularly large pie to carve a slice from, it'd still give Canon advantages in 1) a larger market reach 2) more R&D platform from which to develop bragging rights (which we know Canon loves) and 3) the prestige factor that comes with medium format. Frankly, I'm somewhat surprised Canon wasn't the first out of the gate with a digital back early last decade, leveraging their existing sensor development efforts to that end. They've proven pretty successful bringing full frame to market, after all.

The simple guess would be that they dont make the hardware, so they arent venturing into the accessories. They focus on products they develop and bring to market in categories where they can compete. Coming to the party late with a MF back for a camera they didnt create seems too far out of their business model.

I agree with gonzo. I would expect Canon to introduce a MF camera (and lenses) before marketing just the back for other people's bodies.

My guess is that Canon like any other business model is to make money. Maybe the feel MF is not where the big money is. Just look at their recent direction with dslr. It's heading towards cine-movie making. Canon made a good chunk of money by carving a new hdslr market segment with the 5d2. Now they dominate it and are capitalizing on this growing market.

Take it from a MFDSLR photographer ...
Canon is a commodity manufacture of beginning to advanced consumer photo.
They take the innovation of others and market market their version of that item.
While the could follow and market on the coat tails that others have innovated in MF ...
the consumer photo market can not support MF to the level that Canon markets too
nor the price level.

Delhi, I suspect you're right. The profit margins on MF wouldn't satisfy their financial goals--it'd make money, but not enough. I'd think it might be worthwhile even as a loss leader, though.

You make a VERY good point about cinema, though. I imagine they're focusing all available assets in bulking up that 800 pound gorilla and fending off any potential rivals.

Canon does have a high MP body or two in the wild now and will no doubt announce that this year. iI don't think MF would be worth the effort considering the serious push Sony, Nikon, and m4/3 are doing now.