Do you think Canon will respond to the Nikon D800?

Any views on whether Canon are likely to drive its development of FF systems towards 36mp / wider dynamic range like the D800? I would love to stay with the Canon family- (prefer the ergonomics and user interface) but the D800 is very tempting come the day I upgrade.

It's anyone's guess at this point, but the new high-MP camera from Canon is often rumored to be a 1-series, so it wouldn't be anywhere in the same price range anyway. If you really want access to a 36mp sensor with 14 stops of DR right now, the best way to do it would be with the Sony a7r, since you can get an adapter and use all your Canon lenses, and as a plus, you'll get to use the "mini-Otus" 55mm f/1.8

IMO, it would seem that all the major camera manufacturers are holding out for Photokina 2014, so you likely won't see any new (major) announcements until mid-September. It doesn't seem like anything major will come out of NAB 2014, but I could be wrong.

They have patents for high MP sensors so we know they are thinking about it at least.

I can wait a year or so. Still on the 7D learning curve and enjoying it immensely. Not sure about the real NEED to go FF. Sometimes (usually close ups), I really nail a picture and say to myself: 'why do I want more'. And printed versions always look better than pixel peeping a screen. Then again there are times when I need to crop heavily on a long shot, the results can be disappointing. That plus the extra DR and the extra stop or 2 of low light capability makes the proposition attractive.

As for the A7R. My mind is open to it. I just don't know yet. When you say it can take all Canon lenses with an adapter, does that include EFS lenses?

I think Canon will respond to the d800 but by then nikon will have already responded to the d800 by making a successor.

Kirth Gersen wrote in post #16733197
As for the A7R. My mind is open to it. I just don't know yet. When you say it can take all Canon lenses with an adapter, does that include EFS lenses?

EF-S lenses should work since the a7r has an in-menu toggle for aps-c crop mode, you go down to just 15mp of resolution, but the dynamic range is still there.

The autofocus speed does take a big hit, at least until the next generation adapter comes out, but the need for lots of DR and resolution means shooting at ISO100 on a tripod, so AF speed and accuracy is merely a bonus for the intended use.

But if for some reason you want a camera that's both fast and can shoot high fidelity images, then I can see 3 possibilities for the near future:
1. D800E with Nikon glass
2. a7R with alpha lenses via the LA-EA4 adapter
3. wait for Canon's solution

I think its unlikely in the near or medium future. Canon would have to rebuild its sensor manufacturing base and that's not going to be cheap, its the downside of "growing-your own".

On the other hand, I imagine than Sony would be only too pleased to sell the sensors to Canon!

Kirth Gersen wrote in post #16733110
Any views on whether Canon are likely to drive its development of FF systems towards 36mp / wider dynamic range like the D800? I would love to stay with the Canon family- (prefer the ergonomics and user interface) but the D800 is very tempting come the day I upgrade.

I had the 7d and then upgraded to a 1ds miii. That was a huge upgrade in image quality from my perspective. Then I looked for another body and it came down to the Sony a7r, Canon 5D MIII and the Nikon D800. After playing, I mean carefully weighing the pros and cons of each shooting with them I grudgingly went with the Nikon D800. Eventually I'll get around to selling off my Canon lens but right now I'm having to much fun seeing what this new body can do. It is every bit as huge a jump up from the 1ds miii as the 1ds miii was from the 7d.

Bottom line is it isn't that steep a learning curve as some would have you believe in switching and learning a new body.

One last thing I'll mention in the D800's favor is that It's hard to get an oof shot with its focusing system. The lens aren't quite as snappy as their canon counterparts when acquiring focus but they nail it pretty much every time.

Lowner wrote in post #16733339
I think its unlikely in the near or medium future. Canon would have to rebuild its sensor manufacturing base and that's not going to be cheap, its the downside of "growing-your own".

Unless you are an insider, you have no idea if they are not 99% there yet...
I'm in the business of qualifying fab processes (among other things) and unless you are a integral part of that team, you have no idea what is happening.

Lowner wrote in post #16733339
On the other hand, I imagine than Sony would be only too pleased to sell the sensors to Canon!

Maybe or maybe Nikon will throw a hissy fit (legally speaking)

Lowner wrote in post #16733339
I think its unlikely in the near or medium future. Canon would have to rebuild its sensor manufacturing base and that's not going to be cheap, its the downside of "growing-your own".

On the other hand, I imagine than Sony would be only too pleased to sell the sensors to Canon!

Unless Nikon's contract with Sony rules that out!

I really don't know if Canon will answer the D800 (resolution and DR), but if they don't, then I wonder what else will differentiate, say, a 5D IV from a 5D III. Sure, there is still some ground to gain in the high ISO department and they can throw in some stuff like wifi, gps, and dual-pixel sensor AF. And, if they give the 5D IV enough of those things it will be heralded as a great new camera. But if they don't get around to making the basic ISO 100 image quality better, then Canon starts to look like 1980's US automakers: same ol' cars year after year, but with more and more cupholders.

It's too late for Canon to respond to the D800. That ship has come and gone. They need to be preparing for the D800s replacement. I'm sure Nikon and Sony have not been standing still and recent releases be Sony seems to indicate that there have already been improvements.

David Arbogast wrote in post #16733481
I really don't know if Canon will answer the D800 (resolution and DR), but if they don't, then I wonder what else will differentiate, say, a 5D IV from a 5D III. Sure, there is still some ground to gain in the high ISO department and they can throw in some stuff like wifi, gps, and dual-pixel sensor AF. And, if they give the 5D IV enough of those things it will be heralded as a great new camera. But if they don't get around to making the basic ISO 100 image quality better, then Canon starts to look like 1980's US automakers: same ol' cars year after year, but with more and more cupholders.

I have read a few articles that Canon is working hard on 4K video. That is one place Canon still has a clear lead so maybe that is where they are placing all their eggs. Leave the still images to Nikon and concentrate on video. It sort of makes sense looking at Canons last few camera releases.

Kirth Gersen wrote in post #16733110
Any views on whether Canon are likely to drive its development of FF systems towards 36mp / wider dynamic range like the D800? I would love to stay with the Canon family- (prefer the ergonomics and user interface) but the D800 is very tempting come the day I upgrade.

They did it's called the 5DmkIII, those tinkering with firmware have shown it does have comparable DR, just held back by Canon (look at Magic Lantern if that's key), and at 22MP, with modern upscaling software very few needs cannot be met for prints, and if you're cropping that heavily it's time to move or get better glass. And by shooting at 22MP instead of 36MP you're not buying hard drives at quite the same rate.

The camera's in their natural state do take to slightly different markets, but put a competent D800 user and a competent 5DmkIII user next to each other and the end result of the images is going to be quite minimal. If you unplug from the now years old hyping of the cameras, or the decades on Canon vs Nikon battle; look at where your investment lies and what will maximize your long term returns, I suspect you'll be happier than seeking out the flavor of the week camera. Not saying don't get the Nikon, just saying you may want to approach the decision in a different manner, setting out a list of needs, then selecting the camera that best suits those needs.

gjl711 wrote in post #16733497
I have read a few articles that Canon is working hard on 4K video. That is one place Canon still has a clear lead .........

Sorry, I've got zero interest in video.