Interview: Canon's Chuck Westfall on the EOS 5DS and 5DS R

I liked the interview. Very well conducted and Mr. Westfall's answers stroke me as genuine and thoughtful.

I've seen a lot of people say that the 5ds used the 7d2 sensor tech.
However Chuck Westfall did not say that.
He said it used the same pixel size as and the same processor (i.e. DIGIC version).

He also said the same DR as the 5d3 and noise about the same as the 7d2.
To me that does not imply the same sensor tech as the 7d2.

You can tell a lot from his body language and eye expression and contact, that he himself cant get excited about the camera. In fact it seemed he was pushing the 5d3 more than the 5ds. Westfall, would make a terrible politician, and I mean that as a compliment.

This is a niche camera for studio and commercial photographer who need very large prints, and have controlled lighting. paid with excellent canon glass, it will produce very detailed images.

Its a shame though that canon can solve the DR riddle.

Is this guy serious? Chuck please, take a look at these cameras:
1) Sigma DP2 Merrill for ultimate pixel level image quality
2) Pentax 645 and Nikon D810 for high resolution image WITH great dynamic range and ISO performance
3) Samsung NX1 for video features and image quality
4) Panasonic GH4 for overall versatility without compromises and possibility to use any lens on M43 mount on mirrorless body
5) tiny Blackmagic PCC for ability to shoot 10-bit Prores and 12-bit Raw video
6) Sony A7S for magic ISO and dynamic range performance
Now tell me, do you think about your new pricey cameras? What are you going to offer?

So the 5Ds' filter "blurs" the image...!
Not the best way of putting it.

I am still amazed at how Canon can "do no wrong" in the eyes of their diehard customers. Yes they certainly have an extensive range of lenses that other companies like Sony and Fuji don't have yet.

However, those companies are building up their lens lineups quickly. One day the lack of lenses for other companies won't be an excuse. It is just a question of how long that will be.

First, I wish Canon every success in this endeavor.
As an announcement it seems a little odd, but maybe not so. Maybe the announcement, this long before there is any camera to buy, is intended to stop the flow of customers to the D810. On the other hand, deference to the 5DMkIII seem aimed at wanting to encourage in the mean time, those who would purchase that camera to so so.
It does feel as though we are near the point where the value of extra mp doesn't really offset the performance degradation in low light. After a lot of experience with the A7r I returned to Nikon for the better lens selection...but chose the D750 instead of the 810 because of low light performance.
From my perspective, what would make cameras more enticing now is not more megapixels, but better low light performance, better dynamic range, quicker live view response...
But notwithstanding, I wish Canon success with this.

This gentlemen seriously needs a press training. Never talk about negatives, always position positives. Don't mix "Canon sayd" with "we did..." if you want to be perceived as independent.
He seems to be a very respectable and nice guy, but this was pretty bad for a spokesperson.

"Canon is telling us that basically the dynamic range of this camera is equivalent to the 5D Mark III."

In other words, more than two stops less than my $500 Sony a6000. This is so disappointing.

When are more pixels not welcome? Expensive cameras once had 5MP and people tried to say that was all you needed. BS. This is tremendous and the ability to crop unmatched. If the DR is good enough, and forget video on such a camera - who cares - the possibilities are enormous. Btw, I own Nikon equipment. I hope they come out with a 100MP sensor.

I haven't bought a Canon product in almost 3 years. I would love to try one of these out. But, I ain't going to buy one.
I agree with others I would buy the 810 instead without a doubt. And I am a Canon shooter.

So Chuck, tell us again how your brand new cameras aren't as good as your existing ones?

If this guy has responsibility for Canon's marketing I'm surprised they are still going!

Sony R&D must be laughing their asses off atm.

Well, what exactly is going on here. THe 5D MkIII is as good because this will not be released until june and you might want one in the meantime? Unless you want BIG, there is no advantage, DR same, noise worse, hmmm. Less to go for in video than a 5D MkII .

Ok guys, listen up.

When I buy ANY camera it is to be able to take ANY picture WELL!
My D800 does this. The noise is no worse than a D3 downsampled to 12MP (with MUCH more detail)
I can use APS-C mode to get as good as 1D MkIV frame rates (YES!!with better IQ)

It does everything.

The IQ is NOT as good as certain other machines, agreed, but they cannot do everything well (Canon 1Ds MkII, Sony A7R etc).

Nikon do not have this three or four tier system in which DR and resolution, and the buffer, are deliberately crippled to get you to buy a 1Dx (or in their case, D4s)

One camera should be all anyone needs, and it should last a lifetime. If you buy another, it should be because it does everything as well, but you just like it!

Great camera to use in sRAW. I have a Shelby Cobra, lets put a wooden block under the gas pedal ;)

God. I wish I could go back to all of those guys who I've had to stand next to at airshows or when birding or at sporting events. They sit there with 30 pounds of DSLR and lenses. They would look over at my 5n, or A6000, or A7r and laugh. Now I am not going to say I told you so, but....

Well, who's laughing now?

Have fun with your slew of new garbage cameras Canonites. Those lenses must feel like an albatross around you necks, no?

When Canon speaks, everyone cringes.

For the love of pixels, please get some marketing / sales training! We all want Canon to succeed and sell gobs of cameras but it doesn't help when you tell us in a monotone:

-One new model is better than the other cuz one is blurry.
-The older 5DIII has better low light performance, higher ISO, better and "more pleasant" video than the new cameras you are promoting.
-The 5DS R is aimed at landscape shooters vs. the 5DS which is great for those shooting "architecture and herringbone suits."
-Wedding photographers should buy this expensive 50MP camera but dial it down to sRAW so that they don't use all the megapixels.
-"Canon feels" and "They tell us"... Don't you work for Canon? Show a united front.

Watch a Steve Jobs video, read a book about giving presentations, instill some excitement in your new products. Gush about the new / improved features, don't repeatedly tell us what it doesn't have & can't do. Tell us about the types of photographers who are going to be excited about 50MP.

Same DR as 5D3? Seriously? This implies a Canon designed sensor.

nothing interesting except that new mirror mechanism.
why bother with two variants of the camera since it will have very little chance of moire with zooms or lightweight primes?

high horsepower without torque (DR)

If there will be no 5D IV, then this camera is in many ways a downgrade of the 5D III. That is quite unfortunate.

Sad day for us who have invested in Canon system and have been waiting for Canon sensor DR to catch competition. Pixels can limit printing size to huge instead of enormous (=not so important) but DR really affects what kind of art you can make with your camera... Canon executives should take a long hard look at dxomark scores and especially DR results. No more denial... We can't wait forever, best lens selection on market handicapped by mediocre sensor design, such a shame.

with the greatest respect I didn't really see the point of this interview - It didn't tell us anything except what's already in the release.

It was also interesting to see the contrast between this and the more spontaneous Fuji interviews, why so formal Chuck, where's your excitement?

Well at least he's being honest.

"dynamic range is equivalent to 5D3" - Really hope that is not true.

So on the 5DSr, Canon's top US marketing man says:

"It has a different kind of low pass filter compared to the standard one in the 5DS...which basically cancels out the blurring effect..."

Ah I see, so Canon, you're telling me that on one of your highest-res dSLRs to date, the 5DS, the image is slightly blurred?

Sounds good, where can I buy one??

Smoke and Mirrors. Smoke Mirrors...