I can't beleive that Canon would take a fabulous camera like the 5D that cries out for 16 bit A/Ds and IQ and DR improvement and waste the time and money an puting video in a semi-pro camera. Whom ever the idiot in marketing that came up with this dodo needs raked over the coals. Doesn't anyone at Canon listen to the 5D buyers. This one gets skipped by me. 1 FPS and 16MP would be fine. The 5D series is about IQ. Lets keep it that way.
I'm not sure Canon sees it that way. The D700 and the 5DMk2 raise an interesting question about what the market positioning is of these products. In many regards, they both bite at the heels of much more expensive "pro" bodies (the D3 and 1DsMk3, respectively). Meanwhile the D700 and 5DMk2 are priced as moderate volume upgrades over the D90/D300 and 50D, respectively, but are they really "upgrades" or are they just "different"? Who are these products for, exactly? How much are these products a pissing contest between Nikon and Canon, and how much do they fill genuine market segment needs? Is Canon getting into the jewelry business?
I sure don't know. I can see how perhaps the 5DMk2 looks—on paper—like it is supposed to compare favorably with the D700, but in practical terms, I'm not sure these cameras have anything to do with each other whatsoever.
We certainly cannot judge the image quality of the 5DMk2, yet, but unless it's much better than the 1DsMk3 (which would leave that product in an uncomfortable place), then I would conclude that, to Canon, the 5D is not about image quality, but about sheer resolution.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
If you think the video was a marketing gaff, the print-from-the-camera was an even worse gaff on the 5D Mk I. At least they got rid of that, (at least it hasn't been mentioned). I imagine that after providing live viewing from the sensor, it was a very simple matter to include the video capability, thinking it would enhance the marketing value.
I really don't need the 21MP, but the two versions of SRAW I can go for. After all is said and done, there'll be plenty of people who will find it attractive, despite the seeming inclusion of a non-pro market feature.
I like it. If I could afford it, I'd buy it.
__________________ Dennis
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Overal canon (or any company) probably doesn't listen to its customers. Do you listen to yours? No really - do you? Which customers? If you shoot weddings do you offer more than one package? Why? To hit different market segments probably. Do you know what your competion is offering? Do you care? Are your packages set up to compete with your competiion? (same price but a bigger album? Maybe lower price and no files on disk? that type of thing).
So canon isn't listening (or not listening) to the consumer. They're planning 2 years out at least first of all, and guessing. Guessing what the competion is going to do. I don't think they're doing a good job, but what do I know about their business? Nada really. We heard the rumours of sony's FF beastie. So did they. Sony has the resources that Canon lacks so Canon is wary of what Sony might do, can do, could do, will do. For $400 less than Sony's new FF body you get a 5D2 with VIDEO! Cool, huh? And it's cheaper than the Nikon! With better video! Awesome!
Will this video thing catch on or die? Who needs live view? I found a use for it at weddings (macro type shots, handheld). When (or if, but likely when) I get a 5D2 will I use the video at a wedding? If I can sell it to the B&G in some fashion, yep I will.
How about 30 seconds of them at the engagement session or record their vows...put it on my blog or add it to their slidewho.
What about a still frame? I could do the entire cake cutting in video and pull out a frame here and there for the album? They don't need a videographer anymore...
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Paul, as a PJ, and a lot of PJs love the 5D, I wasn't looking for the video feature, at least not until about 3 months ago when Nikon introduced it, but having it on a 5D, yeah, I'll use it. I'm excited by it. It may not serve you any purpose, god knows there are lots of things in every camera which serve me no purpose, but the video feature will serve a lot of other people, including possibly me. Would I have rather had other things? Sure, but for what little it cost to put it in (I'm betting) I'll sure take it.
I'm not a wedding photographer, but I could imagine that having video clips in the same camera as stills might be useful for weddings. I don't think I'll ever use it, but it doesn't bother me either.
As far as 16 bits is concerned: most people call for 16 bits without knowing what it means. By itself, 16 bits means nothing. Increasing the bit depth of the A/D converter doesn't increase the dynamic range of the sensor, if that is what you were implying.
You can say "why didn't they spend all that R&D money on improving the dynamic range of the sensor rather than adding video", but adding video was probably not such a big deal because 'live view' is effectively video that is not saved to card. Increasing the dynamic range of the sensor so much that it actually needs 16 bits is quite something else.
Video in 5DM2 - What stupidity!!! 
Linear Mode
