Another suggestion the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV might feature 4K video recording [CW3++]

eos 5d mark iv
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I got another hint (thanks) that the upcoming Canon EOS 5D Mark IV will feature 4K. And also one more suggestion that the EOS 5D Mark III might be very different from what we all think. Some sort of revamping of the line-up, I’ve been told.

The possibility of 4K being featured on the EOS 5D Mark IV surfaced in the past and was first reported here on Canon Watch. While in the last months I’ve become a bit sceptical about this, I am now pretty sure there is a real possibility to see 4K on the EOS 5D Mark IV. However, we have to wait a few more months to know for sure.

What changed my mind is that 4K is going to be ubiquitous. It’s on smartphones, action cameras etc. The [shoplink 254]EOS 5D Mark II[/shoplink] and [shoplink 2431]EOS 5D Mark III[/shoplink] have been milestones for videographers, and changed the rules. Can the EOS 5D Mark IV (if it will have this name) really go to market without 4K? I don’t think.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II set to be released in April 2016 at $5999 [CW4]

EOS-1D X
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Latest tidbits about the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II suggest the camera will be announced in February or March and start to go to sale in April 2016. Most likely the EOS-1D X Mark II will be announced for CP+ in February. The rumored price is $5,999.

Nikon just announced the D5, the direct competitor for the EOS-1D X Mark II, so it is likely Canon won’t waste much time before releasing the EOS-1D X Mark II. The Nikon D5 has 4K video, it’s now a safe bet to say that the EOS-1D X Mark II will also feature it.

No reliable specs so far, click here to see earlier EOS-1D X Mark II rumors. Stay tuned for more.

[via Photo Rumors via Digicame-Info]

8K coming to Canon Cinema products in 2016 (C500 Mark II), and to Canon DSLRs in 2017 [CW4]

C500
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This comes from a reliable source, and was told to me through a phone call. The source works for an international television broadcasting station that is already testing 8K video equipment.

I’ve been told (thanks) that Canon will feature 8K video recording on an upcoming Cinema EOS camera. The most likely candidate is the Canon C500 Mark II, expected somewhere in Summer 2016. It’s unlikely that there will be other or new Canon Cinema products set to be announced in 2016. The Canon C500 features 4K, so it is not unlikely that Canon’s next step will be 8K.

The more interesting part of this rumor is that Canon is planning to feature 8K also on their high-end DSLRs in 2017. So, not on the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II, which we expect to get announced in the next months. For the time being I can not tell what Canon DSLR it will be. The EOS-1D X Mark II is Canon’s new DSLR flagship and for sure there will not be an EOS-1D X Mark III in 2017.

Does this mean there will be a new high-end Canon DSLR in 2017? Sounds a bit odd but it is possible. There is no high-end Canon DSLR I expect to get replaced in 2017. The EOS 5D Mark IV (might have a different name) and EOS-1D X Mark II replacements are expected for 2016.

Canon working on a 360-degree spherical imagery camera (Ricoh Theta competitor)? [CW3]

Ricoh Theta S
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I’ve been told (thanks) that Canon is working on the development of a camera that has similar features as the Ricoh Theta S camera (announced September 2015).

The Ricoh Theta S is a camera device with two lenses (one on each side) that allows to capture full 360-degree spherical imagery with different levels of exposure on each side. The Ricoh Theta S has the following features:

  • Record 360° Spherical Photos/Videos
  • 2 x 12MP 1/2.3″ Sensors, 14.4MP Output
  • Twin Lens System, f/2 Maximum Aperture
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 30 fps
  • Live Streaming via USB or HDMI
  • Auto, Shutter Speed & ISO Priority Modes
  • ISO 1600 & Manual Exposure up to 1 Min.
  • Built-In Wi-Fi for Live View and Control
  • 8GB Internal Memory
  • Google Maps/Street View Compatible

While this might sound a bit gadget-like to someone, it is also a cool camera concept that will appeal to many people, and that maybe will play a big role in the future of photography (think GoPro and the huge commercial success it had). Camera concepts like the Ricoh Theta may well become a best seller and who wouldn’t want to have a best-selling camera in their catalog? These are also times when DSLR sales figures are going down and I am sure all the big manufacturers are looking out for new ideas.

It’s not surprising to me to hear that Canon might work on such a camera. Canon is the biggest camera and lens manufacturer out there but camera concepts like the Ricoh Theta are not on offer by Canon. To get a better idea what such a camera can do have a look at the video below, released by Ricoh for the announcement of the Ricoh Theta S.

I rate the rumor CW3 because of the source. However, a grain of salt is appropriate here.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV might not be what you expect [CW3+]

eos 5d mark iv
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I guess this should be categorised under “weird rumor”. I would normally not give it much credit, but since it comes from a source known to me, I post it.

What’s going on with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV? The 5D4 is likely the most secretive Canon DSLR I’ve seen so far. I am not even sure it will be named “EOS 5D Mark IV”. It’s the “Mark IV” that’s puzzling here.

The number four (4) is considered unlucky in Japanese culture because it is sometimes pronounced “shi“, which is also a word for death. Indeed, as far as I know, there is only one Canon DSLR having the “Mark IV” after the moniker, it’s the Canon [shoplink 271]EOS-1D Mark IV[/shoplink]. If there are Japanese readers who want to add something, please do it in the comment section. I’ll be glad for any additional information. Should I have misunderstood something about Japanese culture (which I greatly esteem), then I apologise.

We might not see a [shoplink 271]EOS 5D Mark III[/shoplink] replacement that’s a Mark IV version of this highly popular Canon full-frame camera. This may also give some sense to the many contradicting EOS 5D Mark IV rumors we saw during 2015, starting with a rumor I am beginning to take even more seriously, saying we will see two different models for the EOS 5D Mark III replacement. Canon already did a model split with the [shoplink 27765]EOS 5Ds[/shoplink] and [shoplink 27766]EOS 5Ds R[/shoplink].

Will the EOS 5D Mark III replacement feature 4K video? That’s another controversial point. I got hints it will, but if the EOS-1D X Mark II gets 4K (and it is likely it will), then I doubt Canon will feature it also on the EOS 5D Mark III replacement.

One final thing. While the source I am citing here didn’t deliver any specs, it was suggested that the EOS 5D Mark III replacement will be “something very new” that breaks with the previous line-up. I don’t think this means the end of the EOS 5D series, but it might point to the beginning of a new line-up, even if it is still a “Canon 5D” DSLR line-up. Pretty confusing, isn’t it?

I was not sure about the rating of this rumor. I dare to give it a CW3+. And I am curious to know what you think about this.