While the Canon 90D isn’t necessarily expected to arrive until August or September, that doesn’t stop the rumor mill from producing some specs around the mid-range DSLR successor to the Canon 80D.
Canon 90D Rumored Specs
- 32.5mp APS-C DPAF Sensor
- Dual DIGIC 8
- Dual SD card slots
- 10fps still shooting
- ISO range of 100-51,200
- 45 AF points (no word on the number of cross-type points)
- 4K video at 24/25, 30 and 60fps (No word on DPAF in 4K recording)
- 3.2″ rear articulating LCD
- Dust and moisture sealing
- Built-in wifi and Bluetooth
- $1399 USD price at launch
- Coming late August 2019
These specs look like a solid upgrade to the Canon 80D; however, they remain an unsubstantiated rumor for now. Another interesting rumor is that this could be the last mid-range DSLR in Canon’s APS-C lineup before Canon fully commits to mirrorless. While I really do like so many things about the Canon EOS R, I don’t know that Canon is really ready to abandon the DSLR form-factor within the next refresh cycle.
Who’s ready for the end of DSLRs for everything be the higher-end models?
[via Canon Rumors]
Canon really need a true replacement for the Canon 7D Mark II. It should be something that has many of the features of the Nikon D850. That would be a game changer!!! I’m not ready for mirrorless unless it has some guts like Sony.
I heard about this a couple days ago and was kind of surprised.
To my knowledge the only Canon body (outside of the 1D series) with dual processors is the 7D series.
This makes me wonder if there will be a 7D Mk3 or if this is some way to merge the 7D line with the xxD line. If it were up to me I’d keep the 7D series going because after 90D the next number in the xxD series would be 100D which will start overlapping some of their previous model numbers/names.
Dual card slots finally showed up in the 7D Mk2 and I didn’t expect to see this in a 90D. Maybe the thousands of complaints about the EOS R not having dual card slots is finally causing Canon to listen?
I love the extra ‘reach’ I get from the crop-sensor of the 7D Mk2 and would actually welcome a crop-sensor mirrorless body to work alongside my EOS R. I’m sure something is already in the works and I’m interested to see what Canon will do.
After typing all of this it seems that if this rumor is true this 90D body will be like an updated 7D Mk2 with an articulating screen. Probably no GPS like the 7D Mk2 (which I wish the EOS R had) but at least it has built-in WiFi and BLUETOOTH (no need to waste a card slot on the 7D Mk2 with the wireless adapter).
If this 90D is the last mid-range DSLR from Canon then we can only expect great things from the new mirrorless bodies and I can’t wait to see what Canon will do next!
If the 90D is PDAF in 4K video mode and 24/30p in 4K, and ideally full frame wide coverage in video mode, this will be a total success of a camera for aps-c video photo hybrid for 4K video shooters. However, Canon’s track record of giving us only contrast detect in 4K (in cameras under $2000) and heavy crop in cameras like RP and m50 suggests they may not do this. Their reasoning is the fast transfer of data in cropped video works better in 4K crop, and thus overcoming any potential overheating issues in the processing. Canon need only look at GH5 to see cooling systems, or Sony A7 series to avoid overheating.
DSLRs will certainly not be dead or dying. not if they open the market to videographers with reliable 4K with fast tracking and smooth PDAF dual pixel autofocus, not the hunting back and forth of contrast detect video which does not work well. Otherwise those wishing to use 4K for pro/semi-pro use will be using manual focus in 90D, or go with the R which does have 4K with PDAF. (or buy a Sony A7x or Nikon Z for 4K video reliable smooth autofocus or GH5).
The rumored dual processor suggests that 4K with PDAF might be a possibility after all (and perhaps a reason to make it dual processors. They put dual processors in the Canon camcorder XF400 to handle the task of processing 4K at higher bit rates with a 1 inch sensor. So maybe there is hope this will be a great camera with 4K PDAF which DSLR video users will love. I own an 80D, reliable 4k would be great for an upgraded body. A wider body might help with cooling and stabilization system to integrate into, something which might be less possible in a smaller compact RP body. The new Canon 18-135mm IS lens that came with 80D also allowed an bottom attachment to lens for smooth zooming with a rocker switch control device much like a camcorder. This is something not available on the R camera, unless you added the EFs/EF adapter. then this EFs lens. Makes the 80D more like a camcorder with this smooth zoom rocker. Usable PDAF dual pixel 4K would be ideal even at 24/30P.
They wouldn’t be running out of numbers xxD IF they had assigned them more judiciously early on. For example, the 30D was really only a minor upgrade to the 20D, so it could have been labelled 25D, since they both shared the same 8.2 Megapickle APS-C sensor. The “major” upgrade to the 30D was in a much larger LCD screen. Likewise, the 40D should have been the 30D, since the 40D sported a faster DiGIC processor, had a more resolute sensor (10 megapickles) & was the first body to feature Live View”. Continuing on, there was the 50D, which could have been a 45D, since it featured a more resolute sensor (12 megapickles) and some other minor upgrades. Once one passes the 50D, the changes to this xxD line were incremental, adding articulated LCD screen, and other processor & sensor upgrades. Probably the BIGGEST addition was video capture, something that I personally couldn’t care less about. IF I wanted to capture video, I’d buy a dedicated video camera.
The 7D series are in a class by themselves, and rightly so. I had the original & now have the Mk II version. It is my go-to body for any serious photo assignments, along with my original 6D. I had the 5D & Mk II, and also still have a 50D, which I use as my knock-around, casual body. It has a TAMRON 18-200 stabilized lens, and covers about 99% of all my casual needs. My biggest regret is that the 6D has only an SD slot… wish it had a CF slot also. The R-series really sounds enticing, but I think I might wait it out to the next release. Probably would retain all my EF glass, in CANON & aftermarket nameplates.
I could not agree more about the Canon xxD numbering/naming system. I’ve watched the system grow (and owned almost every camera body) from the 20D to the 80D. I was disappointed when the Rebel series stopped using numbers in the USA. I remember the Rebel 300 then 350, then the model names were too cryptic to keep up with, while overseas they kept with the numbers which makes more sense to me.
Going from the 20D to the 30D (I had both bodies) was a very incremental change and you’re right, they could have just called it the 25D since it was a 20D with just the screen size and I think ISO options that were updated (maybe the menu too). Of all the xxD bodies the 30D was with me the longest and it was one of my favorites. The 40D (I owned that too) was an update with 10MP and Live View but the screen on the 40D is so terrible because they made it physically larger without increasing the screen resolution. It’s almost impossible to judge sharpness/focus on that screen because your eyes are trying to decipher that horrible resolution. When I got the 50D I loved the quality of the screen and having 15MP was also nice. Live View also improved and I noticed some strange sensor artifacts that I didn’t have with the 40D. I sold my 50D when I bought the 5D Mk2 (which felt like a full-frame version of my trusty old 30D), but I’ve since picked up some used 50D bodies and I use them for timelapse photography. Having finally made the jump to full-frame I didn’t bother with the 60D or 70D but I did pick up an 80D for video and the flip-out touchscreen.
From what you’re saying, Canon could have gone with this naming scheme:
20D, 25D (30D), 30D (40D), 35D (50D), 40D (60D), 45D(70D), and after that it’s hard to say if the 80D is enough of a jump to become the 50D or if it should have been something like a 47D. But the rumored specs of the 90D are much more of a jump than anything else since the 50D jumping to the 60D and adding video and a flip-out screen (and taking away CF cards and the 3-pin remote connector).
A friend of mine had the 7D while I had the 5D Mk2 and it was interesting but I never went there. I was always a “one camera body” shooter until I bought the 5D Mk3 and kept my 5D Mk2. Prior to that I would always sell my old camera body to help fund my new purchase. Once I shot with two bodies (and my wife began to shoot too) I started down a slippery slope and don’t even want to admit how many bodies I have now. I use the 50D bodies for timelapse but have recently picked up the EOS M which is much smaller and quieter. I also have a couple 7D bodies which I use for photo booths and remote camera, as well as a 7D Mk2.
I love everything about the 7D Mk2 EXCEPT how the top LCD display doesn’t show the light meter when you’re in Manual mode. Every Canon body I’ve owned since the 20D does this and they took it out of the 7D Mk2. I spoke with a Canon rep who didn’t even know this feature was missing, he grabbed his copy and verified it was true. I wished Canon (or someone else who is very crafty) would release a firmware update to bring this feature back to the 7D Mk2. Other than that I love it and my only remaining wishes would be to have ISO 50 and maybe not have the eyepiece stick out as far as it does. I think of the 7D Mk2 as an ‘almost’ 1Dx crop body because it has dual processors and great auto focus. I like that the focus points on a crop body aren’t quite as clustered toward the center as they are on a full-frame body.
Compact Flash cards have been my preference ever since I started shooting, I take very good care of my gear and haven’t bent any pins yet. They’ve always seemed superior (in my mind) to SD cards but I know a change is coming. I feel like CFast and XQD are doing the VHS/Beta thing (or HD-DVD/Bluray) and we’ll soon have a standard. I’m OK with Canon keeping an SD card slot on the EOS R (although I really NEED two slots) because the battle of the memory card format isn’t over yet.
I’ve never owned a 6D body but I’d imagine if Canon keeps the 6D line going the next body will have dual card slots. It wouldn’t make sense for the 90D to have dual card slots and the 6D Mk3 not to.
I know the EOS R isn’t the perfect body for me but I’m glad I got it, even without dual card slots. I found it necessary to get a jump on mirrorless and this was a much better option for me than switching to Sony based on all the Canon gear I already have. I’ll probably do a YouTube review on my impressions of shooting with the Canon 5D Mk4 for a few years and picking up the EOS R because it has been ‘interesting’.
I am not a pro photographer, but have done “pro” jobs over the years. My first CANON SLR was the PELLIX Ql (I still have it, and its sister, the original FT). Then I graduated to an EF & an F1N, and finally to two T90 bodies. In my estimation, the T90, not only it being the undeclared test bed for many of the features later found in the EOS family, was the quintessential CANON film camera. Much of my best work was with the T90s. The first EOS body for me was the 1N. I had two of them, and still have 1 left. I also have a 1V body, and believe it or not, but on occasion, I pull out my film cameras & capture some events, especially family gatherings, etc. since most older members really like the results from prints.
I had 2 30D bodies, and traded one for the 40D, when it was introduced. I did a lot of photography with the 40, but never realized any deficiency with the LCD screen. Oh, well ….. But, when the 50 was introduced, I traded or sold the 30s & 40 for the 50. The first one I had failed, which disappointed me, but instead of sending it to CANON for repair, I traded it on a 5D II. I had a 5D at the same time as the 30’s. The 5D II was a good camera, but the shutter was too noisy for some of the venues, so I traded it for the 6D, and that’s where I’m at now. When the 6D II came out, I seriously thought of trading up since I really liked the original, but reading an early review, disappointed me, since it was a total bashing of the camera, so I passed on it.
Regarding your comment about the 7D Mk II, I never noticed this feature being missing in the top LCD screen …. just goes to show how observant I am! Another, Oh, well …..
It’s interesting to think about the CANON model numbering system, since there is a “bastard” child in the line-up …. the 77D! That camera although it’s embedded in the xxD format, it’s like it sits between nowhere & no place. Is it 3/4 of a step between the 70D & the 80D, or is it a fluke of nature?
Lastly, at 75, I’m not as active as I once was, so now most of my photography is capturing either religious or secular events at our parish. For most of the religious events, Flash-enabled photography is verboten, so setting the 6D & 7D II to ISO 8000, yields quite acceptable results … not only in settings values (Av, Tv) but also in colour saturation & pixel depth.
Very cool! I didn’t get started with photography until after digital and have very little film experience. So much to learn but it’s a fun process. I try not to nerd-out on gear too much but I keep finding uses for some of the new advancements.
I do a little video and it’s actually paid work and I’m glad I can do that with the gear I already own. I only shoot 1080p at 24fps, so all the complaints about the lack of 4k video features don’t bother me as I’m not interested in the overhead of 4k and it wouldn’t benefit me right now.
On the other hand in terms of staying competitive, I’m surprised that Canon will cripple some of their bodies when companies like Sony has been offering feature-rich video on their bodies for a few years now. I’m sure there are business people at Canon who are way smarter than me when it comes to running a company but from a consumer’s view, some people want these features and will go elsewhere to get them. Thankfully my needs for video aren’t excessive and I’m happy with video in every Canon body I’ve had since the 5D Mk3, and even more happy since Dual Pixel AF. With all those advances I still can not understand why Canon released the EOS RP without the ability to shoot 1080p at 24fps, that is so backward!