Extended M series

1. MikeJ9116 wrote:

Photato wrote:

MikeJ9116 wrote:

Photato wrote:

Blue II wrote:

Photato wrote:

Now that we are just days away from the new M50 announcement and rumors suggest it would be something new about the sensor, I wonder if Canon will introduce with this camera a higher tier model based on a new enlarged sensor. I say higher tier because contrary to what the model name suggest, there is almost no room for a model in between the M6 and the M100.

Granted, such sensor won't be Full Frame, but larger than the current APS-C, enough to cover the 3 most common aspect ratios. 3:2, 16:9 4:3. A more efficient use of the image circle.

Canon used to have a sensor between APS-C and FF. It was an APS-H with a 1.3 crop factor. I don’t see them bringing it back.

Why not?
Canon has made in the past custom sensor sizes like the 1.5" for the Powershot G1 X II using the same oversize concept.
One reasonable question would be of economy of scale and that model proves that Canon has no problem running relative small quantity of sensor production.
This oversized sensor looks to me like a very reasonable way to improve the image quality and functionality of the M series without the need of any sophisticated technology and a boost for EF lens sales.

I would like to see an intermediate sensor but, IMO, Canon has been moving to reducing manufacturing costs which doesn't bode well for adding a low production, expensive item to manufacture like an image sensor. They might do it if they plan to offer it in several other models but this is highly unlikely. FF is the only niche where they are willing to offer multiple sensors due to the the higher sales prices of these models.

Canon also makes their own 1" sensors only for dedicated video cameras, which is in itself a smaller market than a premium M series would be.

My guess is these video cameras command a lot more money that consumer grade stills cameras. Probably a similar business model as the FF sensor DSLR segment (i.e. higher prices justify lower volume production).

Besides, these are INVESTMENTS where they could make more money by selling more EF lenses. For instance I'd pay a premium of up to $200 for such sensor which more than cover the cost of production and also would I'd be more willing to buy an EF 85mm prime for portrait given that is more suitable for Portrait with a reduced crop factor sensor.

IMO, the ILC market is not a growing one and a buyer of this new camera is probably a lost sale for another Canon model or, at best, stealing the buyer from another brand. Right now the camera makers are basically stealing customers from each other instead of bringing new users into the fold. Also, a current Canon user might have all the lenses they need and will not be buying anything new along with a camera purchase. I would be in this last category.

Actually for people that already have a good collection of EF lenses it makes much more sense to buy an Extended M to take full advantage of its larger sensor than a regular M. More pixels, less diffraction, less crop factor all in the same body size. I much rather have that than yet another simple megapixel increase in the standard APSC sensor.