A thread over on Fred Miranda appears to contain convincingly genuine details regarding a “Canon EOS 3D”, said to be launched in around three weeks. The timing seems right, and photographers are drooling in anticipation with their wallets in hand, ready to buy. Rumored Canon 3D features:

• High performance AF system with 27 AF points, 11 of which are cross–type sensors up to f/4, with the center point cross–type up to f/5.6 and capable of AF up to f11. This performance is comparable or even better than the 1D series.
• ECF: Eye–controlled focus. A unique feature carried over from the Elan 7NE.
• 13.3 megapixel APS-H (1.3x) sensor with DIGIC III, capable of ISO 50 and 3200 plus ISO 25 and 6400 as expanded options.
• 6 frames per second continuous shooting speed, up to 40 JPGs or 18 RAW files.

Personally I was expecting an update to the 5D or a new DSLR in the 1D line. We will see …

Technorati Tags: canon, rumours, 3d, 1d, 5d, dslr, camera, news

I don’t know if the Nikon fans amongst you have gone to the Nikon Site lately but they have a flash teaser there about a new 10.2 megapixel Nikon DSLR due in 20 days. A replacement for the D70s? With the release of the Sony Alpha sporting the same sensor as the pro line of Nikons (but hundreds of dollars cheaper) hurting Nikon marketing machine that is where I would put my money right now …

Technorati Tags: new, nikon, dslr, cameras, rumours, photography, news

There are a couple of features that would be great but I can’t see
happening, resolution increase and full size sensor. Full sensor would
make it ridiculously expensive even if the engineers could sneak it
past marketing. On the resolution side I think they could feasibly
manage a consumer camera now with 10mp for same price as the current
8mp but I don’t think they would want to eat into the rest of their
lineup. Having said that the 300 to 350 did bring with it an increase
of 2mp …

One thing I would love them to do is match the Nikons and have digital
overlays for the focus screen, I find them so nice to line up horizons
and for rule of thirds shots (so shoot me, I am an amateur, why do you
think I own a 350d in the first place!).

All the features I can think of them adding would eat into the 20D/30D
market in some way. My wishlist makes it basically a smaller, lighter
20D.

So what do you think the 350D replacement will be like and what will they call it? The 400D?

FWGroove suggested a list of features that I completely agree with apart from number 3, I think the 350D starts up just fine and it is actually one of the faster DSLRs on the market for boot time:

1. Put focus points in “rule of thirds” locations. After all, that’s where you’re supposed to put your subjects right?
2. Flash exposure compensation. We shouldn’t have to hack our firmware to get this feature.
3. Faster startup.
4. Stop making the grey ones…They tarnish the image of the 300D/350D.
   I just feel they look like cheap point and shoots and they look funny
   with black or white lenses.
5. Larger viewfinder for better manual focus.

We all seem to be agreed that Sony is going to have a big influence on the final design, they are aggressively entering the market with a decent machine with a good heritage. There is some discussion about in-body vibration reduction, probably to early to draw conclusions about what impact that feature will have and there is some doubt that Nikon and Canon will follow suit. Sensor cleaning, another Sony feature, would be a welcome addition. As Fenster says though, perhaps too late to change the design of this coming model he also speculates if the successor will not be an upgrade but a dumbed-down model like the D50 was to the D70s.

Back when we were rumour-mongering about what turned out to be the Canon 30D there was talk of a budget DSLR, the 3000D. Perhaps that will be it?

My guess is while we might know by autumn in time for Christmas,
probably some big photo show like Photokina, it might well be Feb 2007
(PMA?) like the 30D ..

dslr, canon, cameras, 350d, rumours, photography

There are more rumors circulating that Canon DSLR announcements are scheduled for the next week or so. One reliable source told me today that I should keep some time aside on 21 February.

This will add fuel to the already buzzing forums about the rumours of new DSLR cameras from Canon. Could these rumoured releases be the 3000D or the 35D? We wait with almost-baited breath …

Technorati Tags: 35d, 3000d, canon, rumours, photography, news, dslr