Canon execs have recently been prone to intimating in press interviews that as far as they, and therefore Canon’s R&D program, are concerned, the MegaPixel war is over. Finally acknowledging what most of us already know, to a degree the advancement of higher and higher pixel resolutions is purely academic as for most users, a standard off the shelf compact camera provides more than enough capturing capability, size wise. Indeed, the new generation of camera phones are now extending their own capabilities to include sensors up to 10MP and Carl Zeiss lenses.
This (minor) revelation came about whilst being questioned about the future of the 1X series cameras and in particular what the 1DS Mk3 might have in store. The proverbial sledgehammer that cracked Nikon’s, and indeed everyone else’s, walnut is way beyond what the larger majority of pro user’s would ever need but remains an iconic item of aspiration. Canon’s view is that research should now be focused on refinement and improvement of sensors rather than their mega pixel capture rate, with their stated aim to eliminate noise and banding from their cameras. A 22MP camera with flawless digital capture, now that would be a sight to behold as indeed, would a regular 8MP one.
Some might suggest that Canon is taking the opportunity to retire as undefeated champions without having to venture into digital medium format territory, but personally. I’d rather have a 12MP cam with no digital artefacts than a 40MP one with more noise than a night at the opera. With Nikon’s recent nightmare problems with noise and banding on their wunderkind product the D200, it may be wise for them to follow suit too…
This (minor) revelation came about whilst being questioned about the future of the 1X series cameras and in particular what the 1DS Mk3 might have in store. The proverbial sledgehammer that cracked Nikon’s, and indeed everyone else’s, walnut is way beyond what the larger majority of pro user’s would ever need but remains an iconic item of aspiration. Canon’s view is that research should now be focused on refinement and improvement of sensors rather than their mega pixel capture rate, with their stated aim to eliminate noise and banding from their cameras. A 22MP camera with flawless digital capture, now that would be a sight to behold as indeed, would a regular 8MP one.
Some might suggest that Canon is taking the opportunity to retire as undefeated champions without having to venture into digital medium format territory, but personally. I’d rather have a 12MP cam with no digital artefacts than a 40MP one with more noise than a night at the opera. With Nikon’s recent nightmare problems with noise and banding on their wunderkind product the D200, it may be wise for them to follow suit too…