[Nathan]

Sorry if this is a repost but it seems Canon have an absolute beast in development!
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Canon readying 22-megapixel mini 1DS Mark II? - Engadget

The Online Photographer: The Latest from the Rumor Mill

[VikingPhotography]

I don't know about those rumours but simple logic says that the EOS 1Ds Mk II is due replacing since it's nearly been five years since it's release.

Something in the realm of 20 ~ 25MP as far as pixel density goes is certainly within the ballpark and eminently workable. I know that Nikon is working on a FF dSLR with a pixel density of ~ 24MP, so it looks like both Nikon and Canon are really gunning for the pro end of the wedding, portrait, advertising and studio shooter markets, since those pixel counts are encroaching on medium format territory... and not everyone can afford or justify those juicy 22MP+ digital backs

What I can say with certainty is that you're looking at a top-line ISO of 1600 for such cameras, with anything over and above that value existing as a 'boost' option. Photosite density has a direct correlation to ISO noise for any given value and is unavoidable... the only way to negate it is with in-camera ASIC processing to account for that noise.

Anyways, it certainly points towards interesting times ahead; I just hope that Nikon's FF dSLR doesn't cost me an arm, leg or kidney

[Sonsey]

Originally Posted by VikingPhotography

I just hope that Nikon's FF dSLR doesn't cost me an arm, leg or kidney

Probably all three!

[xpaparazzi]

My first post on a forum.
Untill a few days ago I was looking at buying an EOS 1DS mk II. Now that the 1D MkIII is around I am interested in how the 14 Bit 10.5Mp image looks in relation to the 12 Bit 17.2 Mp 1DS MkII ? Also, 10 Mp sounds pretty lame compared to many consumer model digi's?
Does the 1ds Mk II color depth compete with the EOS 1D Mk III
After looking at the Sample images on my 17" MacBook Pro from the new Mk III I think the images look soft?
Any ideas?
Also, anyone using the 85mm f1.2? What do U think? It vignetts at low f stops but I love hand held low light imaging.
The 1ds MkIII with a new 14 bit sensor would be awsome but talk (and it is just talk) is that the 1ds MkIII 14 Bit will appear next year not his year. Canon still has no competition in the Mp race, why release 1ds MkIII untill necessary?
Cheers

[VikingPhotography]

Originally Posted by xpaparazzi

Now that the 1D MkIII is around I am interested in how the 14 Bit 10.5Mp image looks in relation to the 12 Bit 17.2 Mp 1DS MkII ?

You won't notice a difference on any computer monitor or screen - you gain a little bit of dynamic range (around 1 stop) and better highlight recovery when shooting in RAW mode.

Originally Posted by xpaparazzi

Also, 10 Mp sounds pretty lame compared to many consumer model digi's?

10MP for a camera that is primarily aimed at the sports/action/photojournalist market is spot on - even more so since it can capture at 10fps at this setting. Remember, it's about pixel quality, not quantity - and also bear in mind that photojournalists still largely use GPRS/3G connections to wire their images and thus prize lower filesize over total pixel count

And another thing: those 10MP are spread over a very large area, allowing this camera do do ISO3200 and up to 6400 equivalent. You'll not find that on a consumer grade camera... well, not without a bucketload of sensor noise to go with it.

Originally Posted by xpaparazzi

Does the 1ds Mk II color depth compete with the EOS 1D Mk III

Looking at an on-screen JPG, you're only seeing 8 bits per channel of colour data, so it's impossible to judge.

Originally Posted by xpaparazzi

After looking at the Sample images on my 17" MacBook Pro from the new Mk III I think the images look soft?

I had a peek at the sample images and didn't think they were overly soft, but acceptable image sharpness is - by and large - a subjective issue anyways.

Originally Posted by xpaparazzi

The 1ds MkIII with a new 14 bit sensor would be awsome but talk (and it is just talk) is that the 1ds MkIII 14 Bit will appear next year not his year.

I'd be very surprised if Canon did not release/announce the 1Ds Mk III this year - the Mk II is pushing 5 years old and is in desparate need of a refresh. Nikon are due to announce their D3H which will, in all probability, be equal to if not better than the 1D Mk III.

Originally Posted by xpaparazzi

Canon still has no competition in the Mp race, why release 1ds MkIII untill necessary?

To solidify their position in the sports/action market, further enticing existing Nikon shooters over to the Canon brand? Nikon need to get their D3H out to answer this very impressive (on paper) camera.

[silver]

You won't notice a difference on any computer monitor or screen - you gain a little bit of dynamic range (around 1 stop) and better highlight recovery when shooting in RAW mode.

is there any evidence for the extra DR, 14 bits could 'just' equate to more tones with the same DR?

Sil

[VikingPhotography]

No evidence as yet for extra DR.. you're probably correct in assuming that downsampling from 14-bit (raw) to 8-bit (jpg) will simply result in more accurate rendition of colour graduations - a decent enough feature in of itself

The other way to look at it is with high-DR scenes; adding more bits per pixel should allow for better recovery of blown highlight data when shooting in RAW, since there is greater mathematical precision involved in the storage - and thus recovery - of highlight tones.

Of course this is all conjecture at present and won't be proven until the first production models start finding their way into the real world and the hands of working photographers.

[silver]

is interesting what 14 bits really means at this point,. there's the extra DR camp and the more tones camp,. I guess it'll be a mix of both

Sil

[lolyton]

I heard about the 1ds MkIII a while back. Hopefully it'll bring the MkII into an acceptable expenditure for me. I happen to know the girl who is assisting the photographer Canon have chosen to market it!