ArticlesShow ReportsCP+ 2013: Interview with Canon's Masaya Maeda

CP+ 2013: Interview with Canon's Masaya Maeda

By R Butler | Published Feb 1, 2013 | Show Reports

There will be a Canon EOS 70D, but the future of semi-pro DSLRs is probably full-frame, says Masaya Maeda, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Image Communication Products Operations at Canon. However, while he says new concepts are needed to save the compact camera, he doesn't see larger sensors as being the answer for the mass market.

Masaya Maeda - Managing Director and Chief Executive, Image Communication Products Operations at Canon

No room for large sensor compacts

'Some say the digicam market is mature and that smartphones are eating into it. I would say this is true. In terms of the compact camera segment, new concepts are needed,' Maeda says: 'The PowerShot N is part of our response. Of course we have other things in the works but I can't talk about it yet'.

However, he ruled out the idea of a larger sensor camera along the lines of the Sony RX100 to offer more of an image quality distinction between smartphones and compact cameras. 'I think the market does exist but it wouldn't be very large. We think we have a good balancing point in terms of price, image quality and size. Lots of other combinations are possible, but, once you go below APS-C the next logical size is 1/2.3 inch', he says.

'Silicon conductor technology is still advancing. The answer may change, but 1/2.3" is the answer at the moment. Users want to shoot at greater distances and want to get better photos in low light - these are the needs. There will always be a gap between smartphones and compact cameras in those respects.'

APS-C - the step-up architecture

'My idea is that, if you increase the size, you go with APS-C - that's the architecture that allows low light performance. That was the reason I put an APS-C sensor in the PowerShot G1 X and the EOS M - for the time being, that's the standard.'

And, he believes, customers do understand that there's better image quality to be had. 'If you look at sites like Instagram and other sharing sites, the ones that are getting the most likes and the most comments about the photography are the ones taken with a DSLR or dedicated compact camera, and there's discussion about "how did you get that?" and the answer is that it's with a dedicated camera.'

Despite this understanding, he concedes that the EOS M hasn't yet been fully able to exploit this market. 'Looking at worldwide results we've seen users are limited to certain regions - we're seeing very positive sales in Japan and South East Asia, looking beyond that we haven't established market share yet.'

'The concept of the EOS M is to make an interchangeable lens camera as small as possible while retaining the quality we would expect from an EOS product. It must be able to support a wide range of lenses - without that support, there's no point making it. Looking at the data, we're not seeing the EOS-M users making use of a variety of lenses. So one of the challenges is to roll-out a lineup of attractive lenses - that is our response to encourage people to use them.'

The future for semi-pro

Now that full frame is appearing in cameras the size and price of the 6D, the future of APS-C at the semi-pro level is in doubt, he says: 'That's something we're considering at the moment. From our semi-pro users there's still demand for APS-C but in the future, I think we will see an increase in the number of full-frame models.' Either way, that doesn't close the door on an EOS 70D though - when asked when we can expect one, Maeda promises: 'some day in the future. Without fail.'

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Total comments: 500

I sold all my Canon gear because I realised that Canon is too conservative and does not understand markets and emerging technologies. Canon was too slow to get into the CSC market and by the time it did, the product was not up to the competition. The EOS-M is a very disappointing first entry.

I loved my C5DII but it was too heavy to cart around the world with good quality lenses. The 550D is a great product but the 650D is a backward step. The very strength of Canon (the producer of good quality, reliable, benchmark gear) has become its Achilles Heel. You cannot ignore all the new ideas flowing from the competition, like Fujifilm, Sony, Ricoh, Panasonic etc.

8 upvotes

Yes, Canon is too conservative and it shows in the coat and tie Mr. Maeda is wearing. When was the last time you saw Timothy Cook at Apple wearing a coat and tie? I think both Canon and Nikon are headed down a very rough road if their leadership fails to understand our changing world and act on it.

2 upvotes

No offense to "our" changing road, but I think there might be more than one road to traverse. One day I might be with you on the muddy dirt road through the forrest with the rest of the hippies not wearing a suit taking photos with my smartphone while you use yours to snap Instagram images of trees and taking videos of people getting high, but when I want a real camera to take pictures I think I'll hop over to the road where grown ups wear a suit and tie when they go in to design my serious piece of photographic equipment.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

5 upvotes

I actually own both Olympus OM-D and Canon 6D. Each system has its strengths and weaknesses. CSC is most definitely NOT the answer to all photographic needs.

3 upvotes

Finally, a sane comment about 4/3 and 35 mm. Both can peacefully coexist because they each serve different but equally useful and necessary purposes. I have both. I use both. I like both, just not at the same time.

2 upvotes

DSLM will be the near future of photography - now with 44 Lenses (mFT) from 7,5 mm to 300 mm without adapter - from f: 0,95.
I make my wildlife photography still with EOS, because of AF-C and lenses like 2,8/300 and 2,8/400 with converters - but for traveling - I can do everything with my GH3. The future of DSLR-technology is running out - soon there will be DSLM Cameras with large Sensors and small lenses - but it seems like Canon and Nikon will not play the game anymore - it will be Panasonic, Sony and Fuji to take over (maybe Olympus too, but I don't like the handling of the OM-D - nor the cheap Zoom-lenses)

0 upvotes

Re dlsrs and cscs, yes, me too, a D7000 and a V1 so far. Could have been a m43, but I liked the V1 AF and speed a lot when I tested various cameras in the store, and having a VF in a very small package.

1 upvote

I am sorry that some of you misunderstood me. DSLR technology is not dead. Nor will CSC technology kill it. However Canon's response to the introduction of innovative ideas by the competition seems to consist of producing more of the same.

The 6D, the 5DII and the 5DIII are all great cameras. Likewise, the 550D, 600D, 650D series. However, they are all very similar. Although the EOS-M is good, the very things that differentiate it from DSLR's do not perform well enough to compete with the other CSC's on the block.

I think Canon has a mindset that says 'We produce great gear and we have market share, so no need to take risks'. With such attitude they will lose market share. New technologies are continually being developed. That is why the industry has come so far in the 12 years since I bought my first digital camera.

Of course there is a place for DSLR's in the future, but variety is the spice of life. For me at the moment the Fuji X-Pro1 is king. Next year , who knows?

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

I absolutely love my EOS M and have an on- going project that's it's been exclusively used with. I question the data this gentlemen speaks of as every review points out the slow AF and lack of viewfinder. I would love for mirrorless to be a DSLR-killer, but I doubt Canon will be spearheading this initiative.

0 upvotes

The fact that EOS M is APS-C suggests otherwise. It will slowly overtake the Rebel line from the bottom up. What I don't quite understand is his FF - APS/C - 1/2.3" sensor size progression when they already offer the 1/1.7" format in their enthusiast compact line. The difference between 1/2.3" and APS/C is 3.3 stops, 1 stop between APS/C and FF. Apparently they don't see a justification for the u4/3 format in terms of size/quality tradeoff, but this could just be marketing speak. Maeda seems to be saying that you have to go REALLY small once you're willing to give up APS-C image quality, not just down to Series 1/RX100 level; compactness and convenience tradeoff points move exponentially, not quadratically.

1 upvote

@mosswings:
I consider APS-C and m43 to be equal in terms of image quality.

As for the 1" sensors used in RX100 and Nikon 1 cameras, I feel it's just a waste of time. The sensor in RX100 is at most 1 stop better than that used in Oly XZ-2/Canon G15/Panny LX7 etc. But the fast lenses used in the latter group of cameras more than make up that small difference in sensor performance. As for Nikon 1 series, it's just rubbish because its sensor performance is way poorer than m43 but overall size is comparable.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

3 upvotes

@photo nuts: funny that most of RX100 users (as well as reviews) see it in a different way.
Nikon 1 may be a step aside since it is not smaller than M4/3 cameras, however RX100 gives you sensor 2,5x bigger in a body equal to (or smaller than) any enthusiast compact. No, RX100 IS the right way (within compact cameras).

3 upvotes

The VF in the V1 makes it the smallest IL camera with one. And its AF is unbeatable in many situations, as is it's ability to shoot multiple frames. It does not compete with APS-C dslrs like m43 does, and that was Nikon's intent. In practice I doubt you'll see a lot of IQ difference between it and the RX100. The faster lenses are coming as well. It's an interesting system, and the J line is getting a following, I have seen many young people using them in Europe.

1 upvote

Things that put me off the Nikon 1 system:

No manual focus ring on the lenses (you have to button push to get into MF mode then use the dial on the back of the camera)

Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and full Manual Exposure are equally "buried".

No bracketing (why?)

If Nikon sorted these out, the 1 system would be a winner.

0 upvotes

Well, at least he was honest enough to state the obvious...we're at the end of the line for crop-sensor semipro and pro class DSLR bodies; and nearing the end of the line for enthusiast level crop-sensor DSLR bodies. I would guess within 2 generations, maybe less, it'll all be mirrorless. Haven't heard Nikon say it this clearly yet.

3 upvotes

APS-C will get squeezed at the bottom end by mirrorless and the top end by FF. The Global shutter will be the nail in the coffin for the low end DSLR. I would not want to invest in any APS-C lenses today.

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6 upvotes

Nikon isn't saying it but they are doing it.....
3 full ranges of FX Zoom lenses from 16/18mm to 300mm - the variable aperture series, f4 series and f2.8 trinity recently completed. FX primes too. all these lenses updated to G type - every G lens can be used on every single DX and FX body. No new high-end DX lenses for a while. No obvious replacement for D300s and D7000 getting long in the tooth - I think we will see these two lines condensed into one and no more semi-pro DX cameras. I reckon we will see 4 lines of DX body condensed into two in future with the D5x00 line and D7x00 lines retained. Nikon's 1 series, if it survives, will replace the D3x00 entry level AND compete with mFT

3 upvotes

@SHood: it's not "APS-C", it's mirror based cameras. Nikon, like Canon already, will move their APS-C line into ML systems. All or most under-1,000USD cameras will be ML in about 3-4 years. The OVF will be reserved for the 1,000-to-1,500 bracket, like the D7000 and 60D lines.

0 upvotes

@JamesVo: Nikon 1 is not competition to m43 in general, but to high-end compacts. Many people get a Jn with the kit lens and use that as a compact (and it works wonderfully like one). Observe that they have introduced the S line, which is even lower than the J line. What will happen in the 600-1,000USD price range is the migration of the D3n00 to ML first, then possibly of the D5n00 line. Only the D7n00 line will remain with mirror box, but possibly including a hybrid VF that can be used also with mirror up.

Comment edited 41 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

I still do not understand why FF is being compared to crop when between a 60d and 6d there is a 3x price difference. If they say full frame is the future for semi-pro, why was the 6d not released @ a sub $1,500 price point? Because the cost of the sensor are suppose to be 2-3x as much to produce (which I still do not believe since technology and production has to have improved in the last 5 years). People have become accustomed to APS-C sensor and the crop closer view for less money as well as lighter glass.

Comment edited 43 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

It's not because of lens selection that I haven't bought an M, it's because it's AF speed is sub-standard! For those of us who do a lot of sports photography, the APS DSLR will always be popular because of it's built-in focal length multiplier

2 upvotes

I like the future of FF.

3 upvotes

I wonder if the D300 and 7D will just die a natural death. Their replacement will probably be similar to Nikon D7000, if the latter is not already considered the successor to D300. :)

IMO, a 50 MP FF image when cropped down to APS-C size should be a sufficient replacement for those who like the reach of APS-C

3 upvotes

Except that there is no 50mp FF and even the 36mp D800 files are quite large which limits buffer length and FPS. Canon still needs a 7D replacement for birders as the entry level FF bodies are limited for this purpose.

3 upvotes

But that's just a matter of time, bandwidth and storage, all of which can be solved.

3 upvotes

Before the 6D was announced, I was sure that the 7D would not get a successor.

The 6D specs are so basic, though, that it is now certain that we’ll see a 7DII - likely in the fall.

But by Canon's own admission, the 7DII will be the last crop camera in this price range ($1600-1800).

Five years from now, only sub-$1000 cameras will have crop sensors.

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3 upvotes

The 24MP sensors upsized to FF gives 54MP. Think of a 54MP with a crop option like the D800 running at 24MP, with a good hybrid EVF that makes it fill the VF, and the current Nikon 1 AF system working also in low light. That could reach 10fps easily, even at present processing speeds.

2 upvotes

LOL. So nothing between APS-C and 1/2.3". I guess this means the S120 sensor could be even smaller.

Comment edited 18 seconds after posting

1 upvote

The question on my mind is: how well is Sony doing with their RX100? Are they selling those by the boatloads? Is Sony the #1 market share holder for compact cameras? If not, the RX100 may well follow the fate of Sony R1 (2003).

0 upvotes

No matter which way they are going, the most important thing is images quality and market. I believe NO one will use smartphone to shoot fashion. Other way back 50mp camera for web user is an IDIOT.

3 upvotes

photo nuts RX100 in the 1st page of most sold P&S cameras in Amazon. Canon G1X (and other competitors) is nowhere near ))

2 upvotes

Total comments: 500