Canon EOS 3D
There have been lots of rumours about Canon introducing a digital SLR that falls in between the Canon EOS 1D/EOS 1Ds and the Canon EOD 20D. This camera will be known as the Canon EOS 3D.
I have to say I can’t see Canon doing this any time soon: Canon already soak up a large chunk of the DSLR market with the 350D, 20D and the 1D/1Ds, so introducing another model at the top end of this spectrum would only mean they sell less of their other models, and (probably) not gain any new market share.
The price of the EOS 1D has come down quite a lot over the last year, and you can pick a new one up for about £2,260.00 (against an RRP of £3500), so anyone who could afford to spend more than the £930.00 or so for a 20D (RRP of £1270) would probably go for one of those.
The main reason, I would think, to upgrade from an EOS 20D would be to get something a bit more robust as the performance of the 20D is excellent. Another reason would be to get a higher resolution camera, but the EOS 1D MkII doesn’t really improve here. You’d have to go for an EOS 1Ds Mk II, but then you’re looking at about £5,000!
Introducing an EOS 3D with more resolution than the 20D would completely destroy the market for the 1D Mk II, so this is another reason for them not to do it. Yet.
Still, time will tell, and it would certainly be interesting if Canon introduced an EOS 3D! At the moment Canon has a huge range of film SLRs, so it will be interesting when we get the same range and diversity in the digital SLR world!
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August 2nd, 2005 11:31
Canon 3D? - The next contender…
Canon have become a company that regularly upgrades and improves their products. For their DSLR range this has meant in the past releasing a consumer DSLR about every year, and a Professional DSLR every two years. According to the last release dates we should be in for a prosumer DSLR around september and a professional DSLR around february 2006 (PMA). However my feeling is that Canon will swap these release dates because the 20D is doing ok whereas the 1dII is getting a bit long in the tooth and has an almost direct competitor in the Nikon D2X (Nikon won’t admit this as they prefer to pit this model against the 1DsII rather than the 1DII).
Add to this scenario the fact that the 1V/Eos3/1D/1Ds/1DsII series of cameras are now about 8 years old. Time for a revamp of the whole range with smaller, lighter with more autonomy.
One last note.. the 1.3x crop is an anomaly, and an expedient one to get around the frame rate and buffer limitations.. This crop may well disappear in future models creating a very distinct two tier system of full frame and 1.6x crop. 2005 may well mark the year when Canon comes up with this combination of new body design, incorporating a dedicated mirror lock up button (finally!), a new technology long-life battery (polymer?), a larger sensor cavity to aid cleaning, a larger LCD panel…
If they simply continue with incremental improvements, as they have up till now, then their competitors will be able to second guess them and pre-empt their next release.
August 9th, 2005 03:54
Canon dealers here in China have been noticed to attend the annual sales meeting on Aug 26th. A new prosumer DSLR will be presented in the Event. And a replacement of 1D MarkII (2years old by now) will arrive shortly after that.
August 23rd, 2005 02:40
22nd August official - it’s called the 5D
January 22nd, 2006 23:37
..and here’s now a picture of canon eos 3d ?
http://www.dphotojournal.com/canon-eos-3d/
..but many said it’s fake though..for me, i just like to wait and see..