Anybody know if Canon is gonna put on a sale again in May??

No, but on the same subject:

$2499 (5DMkII)
$446 (Pixma 9000)
-$400 Rebate
-$200 Sell printer on eBay
-$263 Bing cashback

works out to $2082 for a new 5DMkII. (Perhaps more, depending on how your eBay luck is.)

Refurbs can be found for $2199 if you're not into rolling the dice with rebates and selling printers on eBay.

I was told today that there will be a $100 instant rebate on the 5D mark II starting May 9th.

Along the same lines, is this a good time to buy a 5DII or is a replacement expected soon?

We've been expecting a replacement since about five minutes after the MkII was released.

In my opinion, right after NAB is a great time to buy a camera. If there was anything in the works, they'd have at least mentioned it at NAB.

Along the same lines, is this a good time to buy a 5DII or is a replacement expected soon?

Typically that would come after the release of the next 1Ds. Since we haven't seen the 1DsIV, I doubt we will get a 5DIII this year. This is all complicated for Canon, as they would seem to need to release a large sensor videocam this year. If Panasonic releases a 4/3 videocam in december at ~$5000, it seems Canon would release a similar APS-C device. A significant number of people shooting the 5DII will want that videocam.
Who knows how this all fit together. The only aspect I'm almost certain about is that the 1Ds will be the top spec'd DSLR, and that the Pro HDV stuff is looking old.



In my opinion, right after NAB is a great time to buy a camera. If there was anything in the works, they'd have at least mentioned it at NAB.

This year Canon didn't need to announce a future large sensor camera/videocam. Panasonic and Sony needed to say something. I'm sure they hate Canon DSLRs popping up in the hands of their customers.

is this a good time to buy a 5DII or is a replacement expected soon?The way to predict new product announcements is to look at their previous history. Research the year and month that the EOS 5D Mk. II was announced and also the year and month that the first version EOS 5D was announced. Knowing what that time frame is will enable you to predict when the next 5D iteration should be expected. The press release history is readily accessible online. All you have to do is look it up. It won't tell you exactly when the next one will happen, but it'll give you a general idea of when to start expecting it.

The way to predict new product announcements is to look at their previous history. ..........................

I purchase both 5D models on release, which was the fall of 2005, and the fall of 2008. But no one imagined what has happened with the 5DII, including Canon.

It's true that the popularity of the HD video recording mode in the 5D Mk. II took Canon by surprise, but that won't affect the timeline for the 5D "Mk. III" in my opinion. That's because I believe they will take the lessons they've learned from HD-equipped D-SLR cameras and apply them to something else entirely different from the 5D line or for that matter any other D-SLR model.

Chris,

I expect that we will see a branch: DSLRs will continue to have video features and they will be refined. In parallel, we will see a new generation of video cameras that leverage DvSLR technology.

But I wonder if the high volumes and low prices of DvSLRs won't make them more attractive than their future video-first cousins? I don't mind bolting on an audio box, a loupe, and some handles if I get equal performance at a significantly lower price.

Regarding the 5D Mark III, Canon has no reason to rush something to market with better video features. The competition still trails on the video side. I don't expect anything until fall of 2011. And I expect the 1Ds IV to ship first, including the best of the current crop of DvSLR video features (manual audio, 720/60, HD output when recording...)

This is all my speculation, of course...

May be just speculation, Jon, but I pretty much agree with you right down the line on your assessments.

That would be great if Canon would come up with a new product category. But traditionally that hasn't been their style.
I agree that there's little chance of a 5DIII this year.
But what will they make to hang onto to the video 5DII customer? The XF300 isn't the answer, obviously. The video 5DII customer will switch to a real video camera when available. Wouldn't most of us be happy with a design like the Panasonic AF100? We can stick our Canon and Nikon glass on the 4/3 mount.

.............

But I wonder if the high volumes and low prices of DvSLRs won't make them more attractive than their future video-first cousins? I don't mind bolting on an audio box, a loupe, and some handles if I get equal performance at a significantly lower price.

...............


The problem that Canon has with making vDSLRs the low end of the video line is that someone will compete with a better video-only product. Canon may be able to do vDSLR for one more generation as a low end video strategy, but I believe doing so becomes increasingly risky.
Also, Canon I'm sure is looking at the kit people are buying to make a complete cine-like camera out of a dslr. They would like most of those dollars.
The question is - what segment of vDSLR users is Canon most interested in keeping? The answer probably best indicates what the next videocam looks like.
On a technical point we don't know what on-chip technology Canon and Sony have developed by replacing CCD with CMOS. We don't know what lower end big video CMOS looks like. Unfortunately for RED I expect significant improvements.

That would be great if Canon would come up with a new product category. But traditionally that hasn't been their style.

The indication is that the industry will bring the new segment. Canon hasn't spoken yet, but according to one of Canon's video reps at CES, the "5D in a video body" is the most popular request/question they receive.

As to what Canon most wants to hold onto, I'd say, "glass". I don't know what direction they will pursue, but with every scenario, Canon's managers will be considering the impact on lens mount formats and lens sales.

Best Buy is has a price for the body for $ 300 less than I paid for it, and $ 2499.00. Interestingly, there is now a $100 off sale on the 7D, and a $50.00 off on the 550d also at Best Buy. I took advantage of that on the 550 just now.

Instead of a 5D, I suggest considering the 7D with the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS. It's the only standard zoom with both IS and 2.8.
Better to put the money into glass rather than the small improvement from 7D to 5D.

I took advantage of that on the 550 just now.Check the box -- I think you mean to say the Rebel T2i.

It ain't the 550D unless it came from overseas (highly unlikely with Best Buy).

Of course, I have been using the name interchangeably. My bad.

Instead of a 5D, I suggest considering the 7D with the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS. It's the only standard zoom with both IS and 2.8.
Better to put the money into glass rather than the small improvement from 7D to 5D.

That's a solid path. Personally, I think the best reason to get the 5D2 is if you want to use fast primes. You can't really get anything faster than f/2.8 in a wide lens on the 7D. On the 5D2, you can choose from the EF 28/1.8, EF 24/1.4, Zeiss ZE 28/2 or others to cover the wide end in dark conditions.

Like you say, it's all about the glass. And the glass you choose really depends on your shooting goals.

The other side of the coin is that many lens have vignetting and soft corners on 5D but they will look fine on 7D because it is crop and so you have more to choose, it will not look good on 5D but perfectly fine on 7D, I think it is best to have both full frame and crop.

Short story is this: if you need wide angle, you're better off with the EOS 5D Mk. II.

When I answered I was thinking about saving money. I was also thinking that I don't like the kit lenses on the 7D or 550. I think the 17-55 on the 7D and 550d and the 24-105 on the 5D are the best choices for most people. For a $2000 budget the 550 with the 17-55 would be my choice.
If someone is buying a set of fast Canon or Zeiss primes the camera body cost difference is probably not important. But I do agree that some people try to save money on the smaller APS-C sensor, but then end up buying an additional lens to cover the wide end. It takes some planning.
As far as vignetting or softness in the corners of the 5DII, I just don't see that as a problem. Especially with video.

On the 5D, you can get the EF 28/1.8, EF 50/1.4, and EF 85/1.8 for about $1k used. They're not L-glass or Zeiss, but they'll all look better than an f/2.8 lens when the light is low. That's the equivalent of a 17.5, 31, and 53mm lens on the 7D. They don't have IS, like the 17-55 zoom, but they are 1.3 to 2 stops faster.

Or you can spend $10k on three Zeiss CP.2 lenses. :)

But at that point, I might look at a PL conversion on a 7D. Then one could rent an Ultra Prime as wide as 12mm at T1.9, or a Master Prime as wide as 14mm at T1.3. Though if I had that budget, I'd look at a ONE if not 35mm film.

But I digress...