New G6 Black Body USB2 Etc.

Does Canon have any plans to update or issue another version of the G6 in the near future? I love the camera but I would like to see the following improvements:

Black Body
USB 2
A movie mode longer then 30 seconds.

I've been trying to decide weather to buy the G6 or the Sony DSC-V3 but a G6 with the above features would be exactly what I'm looking for.

If you're desperate for a black camera, how about a Pro1?
If you're desperate for USB II interface, how about a USB II card reader?

It would seem pretty unlikely that canon would change the interface on an existing camera. Late in the the model's life there is sometimes a limited release of black cameras (see the current 300D, S70 (I think))

IMO there are much more important camera features that would affect my decision to puchase.

Perhaps "desperate" is a bit extreme. I'm simply looking for information about the possibility of improvements to an already excellent camera with a couple of minor flaws.

Who knows what Canon will come up with, but I don't see "the masses" clamoring for any of those things.

Black body - Come on now, does it really matter? Does anyone decide to buy or not buy a camera because of its color? (Don't answer that - I know they do, but they shouldn't!)

USB2 - If you're serious enough to have a camera like the G6, you really should spend $20 to get a card reader.

Movie mode - I wish Canon would get rid of the movie mode entirely. Cameras like the G6 get mentioned too often as "point and shoots" (in a derogatory way). Things like the movie mode keep people from seeing these cameras as being "serious".

Now, those are just my personal opinions. I'm not trying to make light of yours, but be aware that different people want different things. Will Canon change the G6? I don't know.

Please allow me to rephrase my question.

I currently own a couple of small body 4-5 megapixil cameras. I recently bought a KM A2 and loved the photographic results but found it bulky and a pain to haul around. Obviously a DSLR is also not a good choice for me. I've since sold the A2 and am looking for a replacment, something more compact but more versatile then a simple point and shoot. The G6 seems like my best choice but it appears to be on the edge of either being revamped or replaced; a G8 maybe?

The Pro1 seems to also be a good second choice but runs another $100 or so in the US, plus it is entering A2 territory in size and bulk.

That being said, is anyone aware of a replacment on the horizon for the G6?

One more thing. I've noticed that "movie mode" seems to be a bit of a sore subject on this forum. I've always found it to be a bit of a gimmick but none the less a handy feature for quick movies of the kids when a camcorder is not available. It seems reasonable that if it is going to be a feature of an otherwise "serious" camera that it should not be a hobbled by a 30 second limit.

You raise some good points - I guess the most basic answer is: "no, we don't know of any replacement". You can be sure that if something was announced, it would be all over this forum! The G6 was announced last August and started to show up in stores around November or so. It's pretty early for Canon to announce the G6's replacement - the cycle on these things with Canon is usually one year (at least it has been in the past). I'm sure they have something on the drawing board, but they want to sell a G6 to everyone who might want to buy one before they bring out the next model.

That being said, I would expect the replacement for the Pro-1 to be announced in the next few months. I don't have any connection with Canon; I'm just going on past history.

I'll agree. If it's going to be there it might as well not be hobbled (you do get longer times on the lower resolution settings, though).

Surely any improvement to the G6 apart from making it black would start eating in to Canons DSLR market and I am not sure they would want that. Maybe it will happen when a 300D replacement is firmly established.

The 30 seconds limitation of the movie mode is not an evil plot of Canon to 'hobble' the camera, but rather a technical limitation of CF card write speed and internal buffer size.

The CF card controller on the G series is not fast enough to write to the card while the movie is still being taken, so the size of the internal buffer (most likely 1-2 RAW images) limits the amount of movie that can be taken. On the G2 this is about 4 MB, on the G6 is will certainly be more. I don't think that many people actively ask for this feature so I would not bet that they will increase the buffer in the future. On the other hand, Canon wants to sell some video cameras, too.

Best regards,
Andy

You know, I just had a great idea. The camera companies should sell colored shells like they have for cell phones. You get bored with the default gray body, just snap on a hot pink one, or a electric blue one. That way no body would have to settle for a silver bodied camera if they want a black one, or a fire engine red one. Why ain't I rich!

They only released the G6 in September/October. I wouldn't expect to see the next G-series for another year or so.

I just bought the G6; before I did that I read all about it for like a month, also, comparing it with other cameras on the market i finaly decided this is the best one out there for an enthusiast like myself.

That said, now, when I read this post I saw something that I realised it wasn't diferent from what the reviews said about my camera, maybe it is the Compactflash Ultra II cards that i bought, I don't know, but my G6 is recording video depending on the size of the CF in it. Now I have a 512 Sandisc Compactflash Ultra II card and the recording time is 999", and that is like 15'.

So, I believe is the writing speed in the card that makes this possible, therefore I recomend everyone to buy the Ultra II cards for their G6. Eventhough you bought your camera for still images and that is the main purpose, but sometimes you need it to take video, just for the sake of the event.

I hope this helps...

P.S.

Is there a way to find out if my camera is a gray market or a U.S.A. product?

I have no issues with the silver G6; I think Canon alternate between silver and black for each generation, so I'm sure the G7 will be black. Actually, I wish a few more DSLR's (and film SLR's) came in silver or even white. Just my $0.02, CDN.

That is great news

Living in Europe, I don't know but I take a guess ... Take a look at the warranty card that came with it. The only difference should be that a 'grey market' camera doesn't have a US warranty card. I assume legitimate US cameras would come with some kind of warranty card. (Anyone who knows if this should be wrong, please correct me!)

Best regards,
Andy

The movie mode was one of the selling points to me. Then again, I doubt too many people have their camera attached to a microscope. Having the movie mode has been beneficial when documenting sperm motility in canids.

I just want the $500-1000.00 camera i buy to work like it should!!!! I think a sky-blue-pink Geee7 would be just fine.I just want the next canon to get better in the picture QA side.I dont need or want more MP just a good picture.I dont think any camera company has to change the body color to make this happen.