Any news out there yet about the 60D.

[senatore]

I am pretty keen to upgrade my 40D but posts on various threads have suggested that going to the 50D may not be the way to go.So I will have to wait for the 60D to come out.

So I wondered if there is there any news out there re. when it might come out and what the spec. might be.

Max.

[postcardcv]

seriously!?!

The 50D has only been available for a couple of months so I very much doubt that there will be a replacement launched just yet. Canon seem to release new bodies on a ~18 month cycle, so you've got quite a wait.

Out of interest why are you so keen to upgrade the 40D? I've got this camera and am very happy with it, I can't say that I'd even thought about changing it (though I probably will do eventually).

[hollis_f]

The interesting thing is that Canon say the 50D isn't a replacement for the 40D. If they do intend to have them as distinct lines then the 40D's replacement should be due in Feb 2009. However, I wouldn't hold my breath.

What might be interesting is a replacement for the 1D MkIII at that time.

A 1.3 crop sensor, 12MP (with the new, extra-large, microlenses), dual Digic IV processors and a working AF system. Performance at high ISO should be excellent.

Drool!

[postcardcv]

What might be interesting is a replacement for the 1D MkIII at that time.

A 1.3 crop sensor, 12MP (with the new, extra-large, microlenses), dual Digic IV processors and a working AF system. Performance at high ISO should be excellent.

I doubt that a 12mp camera would require dual processors, it wouldn't have to handle much more data than the current 10mp model. The mk III already has excellent high ISO performance and a stunning AF system - I know that there were teething problems but most would now agree that the AF is spot on.

[senatore]

Thanks for the info everyone.I also thought the 50D was not a replacement for the 40D hence my thinking that a 60D might be issued soon.

Max.

[dogfish]

I reckon the 80D will be the one to go for. Any advance on 80?
Sean

[lmans66]

I know I just bought a 450 and am happy with it. I realize that all of the new advancements that crop every year is a step in the right direction but than again, when is 'too much....too much".... I am Camera Zen man...I am happy with what I have (at least for now :-) )

[Roy C]

How long, if ever, will it be before we get AF at f8 on a xxD Camera - now that really would be something for us with a slow f5.6 lens.

[Tim Taylor]

Perhaps the thing to hope for is a good ID IIII brought out soon so that the second hand value of the 1D III drops to more affordable levels.

[IanC_UK]

I doubt that a 12mp camera would require dual processors, it wouldn't have to handle much more data than the current 10mp model. The mk III already has excellent high ISO performance and a stunning AF system - I know that there were teething problems but most would now agree that the AF is spot on.


The current Mk3 has dual Digic3 processors in it already to aid the frame rate, so it would make sense that a Mk4 would have dual Digic4 processors too !

[postcardcv]

The current Mk3 has dual Digic3 processors in it already to aid the frame rate, so it would make sense that a Mk4 would have dual Digic4 processors too !

I'd not realised that the mk III had dual processors I thought this was only in the 1Ds mk III.

I'm still curious as to why the OP is so keen to upgrade his 40D, I honestly think it's a great camera, so I'm wondering what problems he's encountered.

[Dave Hutton]

I'm still curious as to why the OP is so keen to upgrade his 40D, I honestly think it's a great camera, so I'm wondering what problems he's encountered.

Pete,

I think Max thinks that his photography will improve ;)
He'd be better off investing in a good tripod instead of doing everything Handheld :t:

Dave

[hollis_f]

The mk III already has excellent high ISO performanceYes, but the Mk IV should, thatnks to the improvements in microlenses have either -

1. Better performance at high ISO and similar number of pixels.

or

2. Same good performance at high ISO and lots more pixels.

Option 1. would be very tempting for me.

[IanC_UK]

I'm still curious as to why the OP is so keen to upgrade his 40D, I honestly think it's a great camera, so I'm wondering what problems he's encountered.

Same here really, if he was having major issues with something then i would say yeah upgrade, but the 40D is a very capable camera as is. Unless he is having what we all get every now and again, upgradeitis :)

[postcardcv]

Pete,

I think Max thinks that his photography will improve ;)
He'd be better off investing in a good tripod instead of doing everything Handheld :t:

Dave

A good tripod is worth it's weight - buying a Gitzo was one of teh best purchases I've ever made.

For me there are four elements for taking photos (ignoring subject and light for a moment) - camera, lens, tripod and photographer, for me the camera is the element that makes the least difference to the results.

[gmax]

A good tripod is worth it's weight - buying a Gitzo was one of teh best purchases I've ever made.

For me there are four elements for taking photos (ignoring subject and light for a moment) - camera, lens, tripod and photographer, for me the camera is the element that makes the least difference to the results.

Agreed! Well, almost ... even though I'd love to get a new sturdy, light and rock-solid tripod, it's not at the top of my priority list.
Ignoring the photographer for a moment :king:, my tuppence list would be as follows: lens, camera, tripod. I can't tell how much surprised o:D I have been when testing the performance of the 1D MkIIN compared to my old faithful 20D: it's another planet (quite obviously)!
So I wouldn't disregard camera upgrading if it fits your needs ...

[senatore]

I'd not realised that the mk III had dual processors I thought this was only in the 1Ds mk III.

I'm still curious as to why the OP is so keen to upgrade his 40D, I honestly think it's a great camera, so I'm wondering what problems he's encountered.

Hi Pete.

The main reason I want to upgrade the 40D is that I've badly scratched the LCD panel and of course I think I might be able to take some better shots.So I was pleased when the 50D came out but then disappointed when all the advice was that it is not worth upgrading from the 40D.Hence the question on the 60D.

Regarding getting a decent tripod that's a no no for me as I like to be able to stroll round easily but I agree with what you are saying about how important they are.

Max.

[nick the grief]

... Regarding getting a decent tripod that's a no no for me as I like to be able to stroll round easily but I agree with what you are saying about how important they are...

I still manage to walk around with mine Max and it fits nicely on the Tamrac bag :t: Have you tried one of the screen covers like the one I've got on my 30d:eek!: that saves scratches to the screen

All the best for 2009

[kevindurose]

How long, if ever, will it be before we get AF at f8 on a xxD Camera - now that really would be something for us with a slow f5.6 lens.

Roy,
thats never gonna happen, bearing in mind that canon purposesly progammed the 40D not to focus on the centre focus point when using a taped convertor. Thats canons way to try and get you to buy a professional camera and/or a faster and vastly more expensive lens.

[JohnZ]

Kevin, I thought that a taped converter did work, on the centre point, on a 40D ?
I have a non reporting converter and it works very well with both my Canon 300mm and my Canon 400mm lens.

[Roy C]

Roy,
thats never gonna happen, bearing in mind that canon purposesly progammed the 40D not to focus on the centre focus point when using a taped convertor. Thats canons way to try and get you to buy a professional camera and/or a faster and vastly more expensive lens.
I cannot seeing happening either Kevin.
Re 40D/50D centre focus point, it is nothing to do with having being programmed not to accept taped converter but is to do with the centre point being enhanced for use with f2.8 lenses. As a matter of fact, I use the 40D with my 400mm f5.6 and a taped converter most of the time at the moment and it AF's OK given reasonable light and a fair contrast. Using a taped tc on the 40D is not quite as effective as the 30D but better than a 350D!. Apparently the 100-400 really struggles but that is obviously nothing to do with the camera being programmed.
I do not know who told you this story about being programmed but you can tell them from me that it is rubbish as I have taken at least 1000 shot in the past couple of weeks with a taped tc (on AF mode).

[kevindurose]

I found it extremely slow on my 40D but you might have a different set up to me. I found roughly the same as these folks here:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=125441&highlight=40d+taped+pins

Why not visit my blog:

http://kevindurose.blogspot.com/

Kev

[Roy C]

I found it extremely slow on my 40D but you might have a different set up to me. I found roughly the same as these folks here:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=125441&highlight=40d+taped+pins

Why not visit my blog:

http://kevindurose.blogspot.com/

Kev
Of course it is slow Kevin, trying to AF at f8 on a camera that is designed to AF at f5.6 max will always be a compromise. Even on the 30D it was very slow to AF at times. The point is there is certainly no programming to stop you doing it.
I guess my technique for using the lens with a taped tc does help me a lot. For a start I use the AF-ON button exclusively for focusing, this means that you have manual focusing at your finger tips at all times, even in AI servo mode. Couple this with the fact that I always use a tripod when using the lens with a taped tc. Then if the AF is struggling a bit it is easy to roughly manual focus and then let the AF take over. The worst situations are when there is a bird in heavy branches/foliage, in these cases I usually end up manually focusing, but again this is a lot easier when on a tripod.
I have found that hand holding the lens and trying to manually focus is very difficult, especially if you are also using the AF-ON button to focus.
Most of my shooting is done in an open estuary where there is often a fair contrast between the bird and the surroundings so AF works pretty good. The one thing that does peeve me at times when using a taped tc is when some fast flyer's appear - I almost always end up missing them :C whereas with the bare 400 f5.6 hand held there are few better lenses for flyers.

This bird photography lark is not easy but I guess that is the beauty of it, it is great when you actually nail one :t:
Have a good new year Kevin.

[kevindurose]

happy new year to you too Roy. I was under the impression that canon had programmed the 40D not to focus on the centre point when pins are taped. And this was in response to them wising up to the taping cheat which allowed centre point focus in the earlier models. Hence my 20D focuses much better with taped pins than my 40D. If canon really wanted to allow the XXD range focus at f8 it would surely be simple to achieve. Bearing in mind that any old point and shoot camera will auto focus through a scope with virtually no light and the pro cameras have been doing this for years. sadly I cant see them doing it.

[hollis_f]

If canon really wanted to allow the XXD range focus at f8 it would surely be simple to achieve.
Do you really, honestly, believe that Canon deliberately cripple the whole XXD range to make us go buy something from their higher range cameras? Surely if they could cheaply make the XXDs AF at F8 (or F13 or F22) they would have such a massive selling point over the competition (cough-Nikon) that the profit earned would far outweigh any possible loss from people not moving up to the 1-Series.

[kim]

I am absolutely delighted with my 50d - I haven't been able to do much yet because of weather and seasonal commitments. It is far better for me than the 40d but I need to qualify this by saying I think I had one of those from this batch that caused problems. My 40d was a pain to focus with - I am sure there are plenty that have not found this a problem. The difference between my old 40d and this 50d is huge - but of course, time will tell!!

[kevindurose]

Do you really, honestly, believe that Canon deliberately cripple the whole XXD range to make us go buy something from their higher range cameras? Surely if they could cheaply make the XXDs AF at F8 (or F13 or F22) they would have such a massive selling point over the competition (cough-Nikon) that the profit earned would far outweigh any possible loss from people not moving up to the 1-Series.

Of course, besides the last few years have been a pixel count war, thats why everyone is upgrading isn't it?

Focus ability at high f stops is nothing to do with selling cameras- have you ever seen it mentioned in a review, its of little interest to the average camera buyer. I'm sure if canon wanted to, they could do it cheaply enough but why would they want to.

[russ1610]

Is this turning into a bit of a wish list,
I have a 30D and 100-400is L, want to upgrade but not just yet, about March 2010. When I have a little money coming in.
Wish list goes like this,
Full auto focus at F8 with extender, yes please.
Effective low light auto focus with more than 9 + 6 points.
Even better ISO, so 800 can be used almost as standard with no noise.
15 meg sensor, although the way things are going bigger always seems to be better.
5-6 frames per second.
Yes like the 3'' live view.
HD video like the 5d
But not full format size sensor, I think I like my 400 zoom giving me the equivalent of 560mm
In fact a small sensor sized 5D would do.
What else,
A new 18-200F4 is L lens. as good as the 70-200 is now. Mind they will have to design it first.
and how about a 200-500 f4-5.6 is L, as good as the 400f5.6 is now, to go with it.
Think I may have drank too much last night.

[Roy C]

Of course, besides the last few years have been a pixel count war, thats why everyone is upgrading isn't it?

Focus ability at high f stops is nothing to do with selling cameras- have you ever seen it mentioned in a review, its of little interest to the average camera buyer. I'm sure if canon wanted to, they could do it cheaply enough but why would they want to.
Kevin, Canon reckon that the AF system on the xxxD and xxD is only capable of delivering good results at f5.6 or faster, which is why they turn off AF if the camera can see that the lens is slower than f5.6. They could very easily allow these camera's to attempt to AF at, say, f8 but the results would give Canon a very poor name as the camera would struggle in poor light etc...

The whole point of taping a tc or using a non reporting one is that there is no way that the camera can tell that there is tc present so it attempts to AF. So if there is no way that the camera can tell if a tc is present then how can they possible programming the camera to stop people trying it ?.

There are good reasons why series 1 cameras cost so much more than the other models and the AF system is one of them.

[kevindurose]

I knew all of that Roy, i have been using the taped pins trick for years. Well of course its possible to programme the camera to not auto focus properly when f5.6 is exceeded, it goes like this: if the camera does not read f5.6 or less, then the cameras central auto focus point is switched off. Its got nothing to do with whether a tc is present, the 40D has no problem with a TC provided you dont exceeed f5.6. Lets be realistic why would they want to make the xxxD focus like a 1D series camera, there wouldn't be any significant reason to spend three or four times as much money would there.

[Roy C]

I knew all of that Roy, i have been using the taped pins trick for years. Well of course its possible to programme the camera to not auto focus properly when f5.6 is exceeded, it goes like this: if the camera does not read f5.6 or less, then the cameras central auto focus point is switched off. Its got nothing to do with whether a tc is present, the 40D has no problem with a TC provided you dont exceeed f5.6. Lets be realistic why would they want to make the xxxD focus like a 1D series camera, there wouldn't be any significant reason to spend three or four times as much money would there.
Kevin, you are missing the entire point,if you tape the pins to stop the camera knowing a tc is attached then the camera has no way of knowing that f5.6 has been exceeded. unless there is a little green man inside peeping out to check ;)
How do you think that the camera knows when f5.6 has been exceeded ?