In what is sure to be another blow to DSLR users, Canon is now rumored to be ending some of its more prominent lines, including the high-megapixel 5DS and 5DS R and its hugely popular 7D line.
Canon has made no secret of its growing desire to increase its mirrorless camera market share. And now, Canon Rumors reports that the 7D series will cease production, with the company focusing its efforts on an EOS R mirrorless alternative.
Given that the 7D and 7D Mark II are high spec APS-C crop sensor DSLRs, we are left wondering if Canon plans to expand its EOS R system. At present, they only feature full-frame cameras (the EOS R and EOS RP).
Since 2014, the 7D Mark II has been favorable among photographers who prefer a high-speed camera, as well as videographers seeking an affordable alternative to the pricier end of industry gear.
As per Canon Rumors:
We have been told that a few dealers and distributors are a bit worried about what Canon has in store for the replacement to the popular EOS 7D Mark II, as those buyers also buy lenses, more than EOS 80D buyers do. Canon has apparently told a couple of dealers that this concern will be addressed sometime later in 2019.
Lead image credit: Mario Calvo on Unsplash.
My impression is that the investment between Full Frame and APS-C has narrowed enough (Canon RP anyone?) and will further narrow. This makes APS-C redundant and manufacturers are starting to concentrate their efforts on FF (bodies and lenses). APS-C further looses any advantage in a big and heavy DSLR body when price is no longer a factor. I say this as a dedicated APS-C fan.
An APS-C (or MFT) sensor can achieve much faster readouts, less overheating problems, easier AI (see phone sensors), faster focusing. It's not only the sensor that makes the price in a camera body, the processor is going to be just as important the coming years.
Yup, this is why Sony's A6xxx cameras always have faster AF than their contemporary A7x cameras. Only the A9 bucked the trend by using sensor tech unique to all of them.
I rather deplore this. FF lenses are in general much bigger and heavier. I chose for aps-c because of the form factor.
I did too. If they shoehorned a FF sensor into an a6XXX body I wouldn't complain though - I could shoot with APS-C lenses in crop mode if I want or take advantage of some FF lenses.
Makes sense for the prosumer APS-C lines to be cut. Camera makers have successfully convinced consumers that “full frame” equals “good camera.” I imagine demand for the $1500 APS-C cameras has dwindled significantly (Fuji is a different animal entirely).
The 7DII is a sports/wild life camera. You can get extra reach from the 1.6x crop factor (which is good for these uses) and it completely blows the full frames in its price range out of the water when it comes to focus acquisition speed and shutter speed. All three of these are essential features for these two uses. The same people who purchased the 7DII over the 6D/6DII will do the same again, for the same reasons.
Canon is unlikely to release a full frame camera in the $1500 price range that either matches or outperforms it's 1DX II camera as a sports/wild life camera, which is what it would have to do to keep the 7DII folks happy.
Crop sensors crop, that’s it. They don’t give you “extra reach.” A 200mm lens is still a 200mm lens. You’re just seeing less of the available image circle on a crop sensor which makes it seem like a longer lens. They are lighter and cheaper generally, but mirrorless is as well and will likely eclipse the market for APS-C prosumer DSLR’s.
none of it matters....
There is really nothing new and narrowing product lines makes sense.
Multiple models of cameras is more about marketing spin than anything else. I have two cars. One gets driven 99% of the time. The other one is completely unnecessary. two seats, poor excuse for a trunk and costs a lot. But I like it. On occasion when I drive it...I do the exact same things. Groceries, bank run to do things I can't online...cottage sorties.
Nothing new.
Absolutely. Taking the car idea further. If you can't build it on the same assembly line kill it. The only thing that matters in my humble opinion:
Low cost SL3, fast apsc work horse like 7d. That's it. Cram the features into both of them. A mirrorless apsc is a romantic idea. The a9 does 20 FPS. A mirrorless equivalent should aim for a crop mode to address the extra reach and a full frame to cater for others and some crazy FPS number. Like Sony has 300+ focus points. Let's make ours 5535 focus points.... Sony has 20fps l... Let's make ours 100fps! That's never going to happen
@Leigh Miller What are cottage sorties?
Overnight runs out to the house...3 hour drive one way to raid the wine rack and bbq some meat on the grill.. back to reality the next evening.
I'm a working photographer....gotta get it whenever I can.
T&C discussed this a bit and I like Tony's comment that perhaps Canon should consolidate their APS-C line into the rumored 90D. Give it the great focusing ability of the 7DII, 10 fps, flippy screen, and for me, 2 card slots. :-)
And the magnesium body and the weather sealing ... hey, it's the 7DIII.
I think it's a mistake to kill the 7D line. Even Nikon and Sony agree that this is as pro a crop sensor camera as you can get. And I use my 7D2 for 95% of my work because I don't need selective focus for my work and I do need the extra reach. For the other 5%, I use the 5DS, which this article says may also go. That leaves me no reason to stay with Canon, and a lot of useless crop sensor lenses. Sigh.