Would you pay for a true pro-sumer camera?

gjl711 wrote in post #6113876
Recently I got to shoot with a MkIII and it is a wonderful machine. It’s speed in focusing, ability to track moving objects, and accuracy left me drooling and I’m seriously considering the upgrade but it’s so dang big and heavy. Now I love my 40D but it’s not really a pro-sumer camera when compared to the MKIII. It’s much more sumer than pro basically being a dressed up xxx series camera with a few pro-like features, a marginal improvement in performance, and a better interface. (Donning asbestos undies)

What the 40D is missing the real pro features so that got me thinking, should Canon offer a real pro-sumer camera, one that would match the MkIII in performance but in a 40D package?

If Canon offered up a camera about the size and weight of the 40D with a 1.6 crop sensor, ISO 100 through 3200 with 50 and 6400 extended, a 45 point AF, EC +-3, 63 point metering, and still accept both EF and EF-S mount I’d open my wallet in a second.

So what about it? Would you be willing to spend a bit more and get a real pro-featured camera in a consumer body?

the 1.6 crop sensor would be a deal killer for me. what i really like about the 1d mark III (and 5d) are the almost noiseless prints @ iso 1600 plus the bigger sensor of the 1d mark III with 14-bit color just makes pictures look better...even better than the 5d, imo.

in short i would not pay more for a camera with 1.6 or 1.5 crop sensors .

ed rader

I'd like to see a XXd-sized body with FF, weather seals, MkIII ISO range and AF points, sort of an über-XXD. I'm just not personally fond of the size of the 1D body. I like the smaller, lighter body style, but wish it was a little "more".

airfrogusmc wrote in post #6114239
I thought that was the 5D. Cause I think the 5d is a much better camera than the D300. FF. Better in low light.

Its the 5DII you are thinking of. Better AF, better screen, a vertical shutter release, less vf blackout, etc. If you ever shoot a 1DSIII and then a 5D, you will quickly realize that the 5D is a 'modified 30D' and not a modified 1 series.

ed rader wrote in post #6117105
the 1.6 crop sensor would be a deal killer for me. what i really like about the 1d mark III (and 5d) are the almost noiseless prints @ iso 1600 plus the bigger sensor of the 1d mark III with 14-bit color just makes pictures look better...even better than the 5d, imo.

in short i would not pay more for a camera with 1.6 or 1.5 crop sensors .

ed rader

I agree with Ed. It's got to be full frame. Canon should release a FF-50D type cam (a 5DII) for $2500 at 4fps and a small form factor FF pro cam for $3500 - the 3D, which adds the 45pt focusing, quicker response, weather sealing, 6fps, vertical grip, etc - in between the 1 series and 5D in size - taking BP511 batteries same sensor as 5DII)

elader wrote in post #6118169
Its the 5DII you are thinking of. Better AF, better screen, a vertical shutter release, less vf blackout, etc. If you ever shoot a 1DSIII and then a 5D, you will quickly realize that the 5D is a 'modified 30D' and not a modified 1 series.

there is already a specs list of the new 5D?

do you have the link?

Permagrin wrote in post #6116893
yeah but FF in order to compliment the M3...now that would be sweet!

Yes, I agree. That is why I'm patiently waiting to see what the 5D replacement is going to be like. If its features are more like the Mark III rather the the 40D, I'll be standing in line with all the others waiting to get their hands on it.

PacAce wrote in post #6118207
Yes, I agree. That is why I'm patiently waiting to see what the 5D replacement is going to be like. If its features are more like the Mark III rather the the 40D, I'll be standing in line with all the others waiting to get their hands on it.

save me a spot in line Leo. i would love it if canon came out with something like the D700 .

gjl711 wrote in post #6113876
Would you pay for a true pro-sumer camera?

I think the 40D is the perfect example of the term "pro-sumer". It is the entry level professional grade dSLR from Canon. Instead of a mirror, it has a real prism, instead of polycarbonate, it has a magnesium body. The build quality is excellent. It's quick, responsive and easy to use, and the layout make it probably the easiest body to learn manual control with. Are there features that are missing that you would like? Of course there are, it's an entry level professional grade camera, i.e., pro-sumer.

If you want all of the high-end professional features, then you need to spend more money, putting it past the 'consumer' price range.

Personally, I don't consider the D300 to be a pro-sumer camera, it's far too feature rich and way too expensive.

The only thing that I would like to see in the 40D is more and better bracketing range ( 5 @ +/-3 stops) for HDR and a metering indicator in the viewfinder so I don't need to lift my eye from the viewfinder when changing metering modes. Oh, and I wouldn't mind if it were a bit smaller, but with the same build quality as well.

Other than that, the 40D is absolutely perfect for my entry-level professional / hobbist / pro-sumer desires.

silvex wrote in post #6113952
the 40D is a pro-sumer. The 1D are pro.

Thats what I was thinking...

m-bartelt wrote in post #6118377
I think the 40D is the perfect example of the term "pro-sumer". .....
Personally, I don't consider the D300 to be a pro-sumer camera, it's far too feature rich and way too expensive. ....

Other than that, the 40D is absolutely perfect for my entry-level professional / hobbist / pro-sumer desires.

I'm not advocating getting rid of the 40D, it fits tit's niche perfectly and is a great camera, but it's heavy on the consumer and light on the pro. I'm talking about a totally different camera fitting between the 40D and the 1D but with the feature set much closer to the 1D. I guess I am talking about a Canon version of the D300. A consumer body with pro features.

gjl711 wrote in post #6118736
I'm not advocating getting rid of the 40D, it fits tit's niche perfectly and is a great camera, but it's heavy on the consumer and light on the pro. I'm talking about a totally different camera fitting between the 40D and the 1D but with the feature set much closer to the 1D. I guess I am talking about a Canon version of the D300. A consumer body with pro features.

I think Nikon has simply really stirred things up with the D300 and D700. These give Nikon shooters pro cameras in a smaller package than a D3 or Canon 1D and at a price point that slots in between the prosumer (D80, 40D, 5D) and pro (D3, 1D, 1Ds) stuff.

Right now Canon has nothing that really goes head to head with either the D300 or D700 on price or features.

The D700 certainly has my attention. It is exactly what I want in a body (well, I would like it just a little smaller). I would really be excited if Canon launched a 5D replacement that had the spec sheet of the D700.

Sorry - the 1.6 sensor would be a deal breaker for me. Never again.

A pro-sumer camera for me would be the form factor of a 5d, 1-series AF, and either 1.3 or FF sensor. Did I mention a 100% viewfinder?

Kind of like a d700 vs a d3.

So I think everyone can agree that the answer is, yes, we'll pay for a camera that is in between the pro-sumer and pro levels.

gjl711 wrote in post #6118736
I'm not advocating getting rid of the 40D, it fits tit's niche perfectly and is a great camera, but it's heavy on the consumer and light on the pro. I'm talking about a totally different camera fitting between the 40D and the 1D but with the feature set much closer to the 1D. I guess I am talking about a Canon version of the D300. A consumer body with pro features.

Yeah, well I understand what you're saying... and there is a gap between the 40D and 1DmkIII, but I expect that will be a 5DmkII which will compete with the D300.

I wish there were a XT sized camera with the build and features of the 1DmkIII, but that's wishing for a lot... give it a few years.

fxk wrote in post #6118756
A pro-sumer camera for me would be the form factor of a 5d, 1-series AF, and either 1.3 or FF sensor. Did I mention a 100% viewfinder?

Sounds like a possible 5DmkII if and when it comes out... eh?

m-bartelt wrote in post #6118884
Yeah, well I understand what you're saying... and there is a gap between the 40D and 1DmkIII, but I expect that will be a 5DmkII which will compete with the D300.

Hmmm.....I don't think the 5Dmk2 would compete with the D300 as the D300 is a 1.5X sensor. Presumably the 5Dmk2 would compete with the D700.

What I fear is that the 5Dmk2 will become basically a FF version of the 40D. At that point you have the 40D competing with the D300 and the 5Dmk2 against the D700. Both could lose on features and win on price if that is how it plays out.

This is turning into a pit of speculation though. Nobody knows what will be released August 26th. I'm asking Santa for a 5Dmk2 with the feature set of the D700 and a new EF 500 1:5.6L IS USM that weighs 1.7 kg.