DSLRs are coming to the end of the line and the Canon EOS 5D line might be the latest to bow out.
Canon has been stealing all of the camera headlines of late thanks to the imminent release of their brand new Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 Full-Frame Mirrorless cameras. But, another piece of news from the speculation section of the internet is stealing some of their thunder. According to new reports, Canon has decided to lay to rest the Canon EOS 5D line of DSLR cameras. This news, which is unconfirmed, has photographers up in arms, but is it time to just accept that DSLRs have reached the end of their shelf life, or is there a need for more, including a new Canon EOS 5D V? Let’s talk about this after the break.
Editor’s Note: We are still confirming with Canon whether or not they’re actually discontinued. But so far, the answer is no.
According to Canon Rumors, one of their trusted informants has told them that Canon has made the decision to turn off the life support to their Canon EOS 5D line of cameras. That’s right, the very product line that cemented Canon as the king of cameras may be no more, and there will be no direct DSLR replacement for the Canon EOS 5D IV.
I think DSLRs will carry on as a niche product, though. Pentax just announced that they believe the future is in DSLRs, and they have doubled down on their commitment to the platform, and I say good for them.
Late last year, some noise was being made about a possible Canon EOS 5D V, and this delighted photographers who still enjoy the feel of a DSLR in their hands. Apparently, Canon made the decision to end production of the camera ‘some time ago.’ However, given the popularity of the product, Canon may well have one more DSLR up their sleeves to appease those who don’t want to give up their optical viewfinders for EVF’s; the new camera just won’t be in the mold of a DSLR with R5 trickery. The question is, do we really need a new Canon EOS 5D or another DSLR variant anyway?
The answer to that question lies in the fact that Canon knows there are thousands of professional photographers who still enjoy using DSLRs. While we may not see the Canon EOS 5D V, we will see something from Canon in this field, and I believe this will be a good move for them.
While the future of photography is undoubtedly Mirrorless, there will always be some photographers who just don’t want to let go. I am still a fan of DSLRs. I am especially a huge fan of optical viewfinders, and at times, I long for a large, bright OVF over the digital LCD found in current Mirrorless cameras like the Olympus E-M1 III I use. Then there’s the fact that there are so many Canon EF mount lenses on the market at reasonable prices compared to the RF lenses, and you begin to see why some photographers would rather continue using Canon DSLRs.
It does sound like the Canon EOS 1DX III may be the last flagship DSLR that will be produced by Canon. This makes sense seeing as how Canon has poured so much time and money into the development of the Canon EOS R5, which is the Mirrorless successor to the Canon EOS 5D IV.
Now that companies like Canon and Nikon have embraced Mirrorless, there really is no turning back. I think DSLRs will carry on as a niche product, though. Pentax just announced that they believe the future is in DSLRs, and they have doubled down on their commitment to the platform, and I say good for them. If Pentax can carve out a niche market in the same way that say, Leica has with Rangefinder-style cameras, then fantastic. Canon, I think, knows there will always be buyers of DSLRs too, but the days of new flagship models are over. We might not need a new Canon EOS 5D model, but DSLRs will live on with Canon in one way or another for a little while yet.
What do you think about Canon potentially abandoning the EOS 5D line of cameras? Which EOS 5D model has been your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below.
