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Would you pay more for 4k in the M5? If so, how much?

Started Nov 28, 2016 | Polls thread
Najinsky Veteran Member • Posts: 5,739
Don't care but...
3

Personally I don't care about 4K yet. I do like to shoot a bit of video when I get time with my daughter, but I'm happy with 1080p for that.

4K is near enough state of the art in consumer land, near leading edge, and as such carries penalties/compromises/implications for the overall package.

Technically, it requires fast data readout from the sensor in conjunction with a fast  processor to process that data into high quality video while simultaneously performing all its other duties. These may carry cost, size, power and heat implications; more expensive components, larger battery, larger heat sinks, etc.

But it's not just about raw processing power, even if the hardware could theoretically support the minimum required throughput, there are still a myriad of choices and tradeoffs ; full vs cropped readout, line skipping, pixel binning, rolling shutter, AF tracking, bitrates, framerates, color profiles, codecs, and on.

Unless good choices are made and correctly accounted for in the design and build, rather than high quality 4K, you could end up with jerky, blurry, artifact-ridden 4K from a portable toasted sandwich maker.

In short, 4K is still leading edge enough to require significant  design and build choices to be made, meaning it comes either at an additional RRP cost (and most likely size) or at the cost of excluding other features.

So as it stands, I have no issue with Canons decision to exclude it. It probably has made for a better M5.

However, Moores Law still holds and I think in 18 months or so, the technical aspects will be in place to make 4K less leading edge; smaller, cheaper, less power hungry, and therefore more mainstream.

4K and its associated tech (fast readout and processing) does bring many benefits, even for stills shooters, and I do understand why some, looking to invest in a small system for the future and with an interest in video, may see the omission as an error by Canon.

The bottom line is, it's done. The M5 is here, and as always, you can choose it for what it gives you, or reject it for what it doesn't.

For me, I say yes. It's a great little camera and I'm pleased Canon finally dipped a second toe in the water, it heralds the inevitable plunge.

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Andy
It's coming, it's coming, it's here, it's here, it's coming...

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