1DS Mark III

[Alice Morrison]

What features would you be looking for in the next 1DS body, presumably the Mark III? I ask this in part to solicit opinions about the current bodies and/or to hear what features would tempt you to upgrade.

Thanks.

[photosbymorgan2]

The camera tells me what pictures are Pulitzer Prize winners

I myself do not need any other features as the camera has more than I ever use. I am from the old school when cameras did not have all the fancy stuff such as autofocus.

[Jose]

Joined this site because I was anxious to answer this question. To to transform the Canon EOS 1S MKII into the MK III, I would:

1.Reduce the size of the battery/charger. I my latest trip left the Canon Speelite 550X to provide space in the bag for the charger. Why such a big charger? Why not use same type batteries/charger as in the 20D? If more power is required, multiple BP-511 batteries could be used.

2. Have 1 or 2 programmable buttons so that I could select one function for example to activate the mirror lockup or changing the ISO by pushing just the programmed button to execute this action.

3. Better protection for the LCD monitor such as plastic translucid replaceable cover and to recess it a bit into the body of the camera. And of course, a larger monitor will be appreciated.

4. Have a built-flash.

5. Move the buttons from the top left of the camera to the right side so that all can be operated with the right hand. With present configuration one must use the left hand to change the parameters selected and if a long lens is in the camera, it becomes a difficult operation. The ideal set-up would be to be able to operate all the buttons without removing the eye from the viewfinder.

6. Finally make the camera lighter and smaller and what about providing eye Controlled Focus as in the EOS3 ?

Jose

[Rumpole]

I have the current MkII and I echo the sentiments of photosbymorgan2. I am used to all manual camera since day one although technology is welcomed.

Anything which can improve the image quality is welcomed such as higher and cleaner ISO and better dynamic range.

Current charger size is silly and I expect LiOn batteries. 20D type batteries may not be useable as they may not be able to form part of the body sealing system.

Of cos, high speed (8fps) FF is always delicious when coupled with larger buffer and writing speed.

Sensor cleaner is a dream too!

Cheers
KH

[lecter]

Higher ISO
Slightly sharper images with less post processing
more buffer
large LCD
MIRROR LOCK UP BUTTON ----- duh!!!
GPS
lighter batteries

[dc2]

A lighter body and if possible a little more foregiving
I have only had mine a little while so im still getting used to it :-[

[lordarka]

I'd like to see some changes;

- The ability to add or remove the vertical grip at the user's option.
- The ability to chance the ISO while looking through the VF (apparently, already added to the 1D Mark IIn)
- 20-22Mp sensor with a selectable high speed or crop mode; the high speed mode could be implemented either as a sensor crop, or a halving of file resolution.
- Greater interoperability between the two media types (i'e mirroring, backup, automatic switchover), along with an easier method of switching from card to card. Apparently, these are also innovations incorporated into the 1D Mark IIn.
- A more obvious location for mirror lockup
- ECF (Eye control focus) as an option for selecting focus points.
- Moving mirror lockup out of Custom Functions, and making it a physical switch.
- Usable ISO 6400, and expandsd low ISO into the 25 and 10 ranges.
- Maintain or even extend battery life, though this is an area where my 1D Mark II excels.
- Incorporate focus points to cover the entire VF area, and allow the user to tie the spot meter to any point, instead of only allowing groups of 9 or 11 essential points. I'd also like to see more cross-sensors. The center point cross sensor on my 1D Mark II is ridiculously accurate in very low light (i.e, with 2 ND8 filters attached). I'd like to see more accuracy on the peripheral points.

I can't think of anything else at the moment...

Arka C.

[CI Photography]

I guess not. You just built Canon's next camera.



Joe

[Phileas Fogg]

What I would like to see.

1: The body will be slightly trimmer, not quite as tall and probably a touch narrower.

2: The 24x36 sensor will be at minimum 20 – 22 mega pixels. And will generational have lower noise esp. between 100-1600 ISO.

3: Obviously we will see generational improvement in battery endurance

4: Since the plan is probably to marry the 1dMKII(N) with the 1DsmkII I think we will see a crop mode of 10 – 11 MP and an FPS of 9-10 frames with a burst equal to 1DmkII for both RAW and JPEGS. Burst mode at 20-22MP will be 4-5 FPS and similar burst size as the current 1DsmkII has.

5: Weight reduction. Canon will trim the weight in conjunction with a slight trimming in size.

6: 2.5” LCD as in the 5D and 1DmkII(N) or maybe even larger as a break through say a 3 inch diag. LCD at least 235,000 pixels or more

7ome form of Canon developed dust control for sensor can’t be exactly like Olympus as theirs is patented.

8: Built in radio remote sensor so that studio shooters can remote control the camera without having to add on accessories. (More of a wish)

9: Designer styling choices, other than typical Canon black. Alternative colours and trim options, (meh something different)

10: How about an interchangeable pentaprism aka, like the New F1 featured.

[Tom Caldwell]

Wow, what an opportunity! Do I get on the design team

How about a review toggle like the 20D? Better still use the combination wheel with inserted 4-way toggle like Panasonic use on their LC1 - the best in the business as far as I am concerned.

A flip lcd on the top of the camera like new R1? Sony can do it with a CMOS sensor - I am sure Canon could manage it.

BP-511 batteries in a separable battery pack? I am sure Canon engineers can get it weather proof.

Small built in flash - even just enough to trigger slaves?

Lets be radical! How about an evf instead of the mirror-prism? I will turn my hearing aid off it you howl too much

More mp would be nice but I could manage with what is there now.

I like the idea of all buttons operable by the right hand ... smaller, lighter would be nice too ...

... and don't rush, I can wait

Tom

[mbanstendig]

The Auto focusing of these cameras is the first with enough sensors over enough of an area to allow precise focusing with most image points, and the sensors are small enough to do it with most images.

However, the sensors should still be placed all around the whole viewing area, and they should be even smaller:

There still are images where the most important image-point is in the periphery of the image (like a gorgeous, sculpted doorway, I recenty wanted to photograph, where the sculpted part that should have been sharpest was way outside the sensors' area and the dull, dark door was in the center, where the sensors are, so there was no way to focus and then frame and retain any sharpness at all).

And there* are still images, like faces not up close, where the eyeball should be the focused point, but the sensor is still so large that the sensor covers the eye, the ear and the nose, which are wildly different distances.

So the only things I would want are 1) smaller sensors, 2) more of them, and 3) Having them placed around the whole viewing area. Because, photography is really focusing! And there is further to go in that area, no matter how much the manufacturers try to cover that up with depth of field nonsense and averaging, and such. Nothing beats getting the focus exactly on the most important image plane/point in a photo. And when one can do that, one really sees worthwhile, important differences.

Otherwise, a little smaller and lighter wouldn't hurt.

Mark

[CamelToe]

22 mp high res. mode (full frame)

16 mp high speed crop mode (1.3x, 8.5 fps)

Smaller/lighter body but with 1Dx weather sealing and built quality

Better auto focus accuracy and speed

Even better ISO performance with the ability to turn off any noise reduction/filtering if wanted.

More logical menus and controls

Better glass for full frame/ high res. sensors

Better included software

...large format dye sub or better printers at reasonable prices would be nice as well, but that's another matter all together :P

[brucemacneil]

1) bluetooth connection to speedlights.
2) more resolution in general.
3) maybe a foccussing screen that would show 4x5 proportion in an outline or a different proportion option.

[timjon]

I'm only a lowly 350D (aka RebelXT) owner, but the one thing that I want more than anything else on future cameras is improved dynamic range. Probably because I spent years shooting B+W negatives on an old manual focus SLR - the gadgets on newer cameras are very nice, but I really miss the ability to pull out loads of shadow / highlight detail. I've had to get MUCH more careful about exposure since moving to digital.

Just imagine a camera that could shoot HDR with nine or ten stops of depth... Probably unrealistic in the short term, but I think it would give far more benefit that the current concentration on ever increasing megapixels.

[dc2]

Originally Posted by dc2

A lighter body and if possible a little more foregiving
I have only had mine a little while so im still getting used to it :-[

And sort out the dust problem