There's another aspect: I'm a professional still photographer (concerts mainly), and I have two 5D's. I just sold one of these and got me a 5D mk II, just because I can use it for my hobby (making videoclips) and because Canon promises a firmware update to 25p. If the MkII wouldn't have done high quality video, I would have stuck with my 'old' 5D's much longer, because for the job they're still perfect. So in this case, the video-aspect generated extra - or at least sooner- sales for Canon.

Canon does not have high end video cam line today, or they have outdated stuff. They have glasses, you are right.

But Beta isn't dead yet! LOLOLOLOLocal Neeewwwsss...

Sure, and I'm not suggesting this is a precise way of measuring precise usage - I don't think there is a way. And these numbers are naturally only a tiny fraction of total usage. I shot over 35 hours of video on my 5D this year, and I've only got about 30 minutes of it on Vimeo - and I'm probably into 3-4000 stills with none on flickr.

But consider the huge disparity in in total numbers - .0003x as many videos as stills. Flickr has an average of 2000 users uploading photos from the 5DmkII every day. Vimeo probably has 500 total 5DmkII users (I'm just assuming an average of 3-5 clips per user). I don't think it's unreasonable to assume that it's at least a 10:1 ratio of photo to video users.

What your not taking into account it the "easy" factor. I can shoot a pic and have it on flickr in about 5 minutes, and it could be a decent photo. Its WAY more work to shoot video, import it, convert it, edit it and then render it and upload it to vimeo than it is a picture. Thats why the numbers are so misleading.

Actually I am taking that into account. I would absolutely expect more photos than videos because of the ease of uploading them - that's why I say I think 10:1 is reasonable, despite the fact that the actual numbers are significantly higher.

And I'm not saying that video sales are an insignificant portion of the overall camera sales - even if it represents a 2-3% increase in sales for the camera it's important to Canon, especially if you consider that much of that 2-3% is probably also buying lenses from Canon for the first time. I just think it's really easy to spend a lot of time hanging around here and assuming that the rest of the world feels the same way about this camera as everyone here - which I don't think is the case.

I suspect that it must be quite a bit more than 2-3% -- I got three friends of mine who are all still photographers (one is a full time professional) that bought the MKII after I got mine -- and what was their reason? You guessed it -- its HD DOF video capability.

-- peer

I know I wouldn't have bought it if it wasn't for its video capability. I also have a friend who was a nikon photographer as a hobby but video is his profession and switched over to canon for the mkII video functions and also bought lenses for video, and is going to buy flashes for his hobby, so video production really helped the sale not only of the camera, but its accessories.

Any news at all on the Canon firmware update allowing optional frame rates for video ???

I was at CES Thursday and Friday. Not a peep about the new firmware delivery dates or features.

I'm curious -- were there any other new 5DII related stuff of interest..?

-- peer

Ugh.

Man, it's going to be a happy day when they finally come through, but the wait is getting kind of excruciating.

There's the new 70-200L II. It's said to be a bit heavier than the current model, because of an additional element. It has the new hybrid IS, including modes 1 and 2 (panning).

The real motivation for the new lens is faster focusing. Sports photographers were not happy with the 1D3. The 1D4 focusing is said to be MUCH better. I think Canon was desperate to maintain their lead in sports, so they delivered improved focus response on the 70-200 to seal the deal.

We've got to wait for the firmware to ship - and NAB to arrive - before we get more information and products for pro video...

"It has the new hybrid IS, including modes 1 and 2 (panning). "

You sure about that Jon? I thought it was not the hybrid system (reserved for the 100macro). I know the V2 70-200's IS has increased to include another stop, but I don't believe they included Hybrid stabilization.

Just as an fyi, the original 70-200/2.8is also has iS mode switch 1/2:)

Anything at all in the Canon area that's NOT predicated on the "Consumer market?" IE, other than the ELPHs and Power Shots, is there any DSLR activity? Are they showing off the 1d4?

J

Jeremy, you're probably right. From the Canon website: " It features a next-generation Optical Image Stabilizer, providing up to 4 stops of correction at all focal lengths." I had assumed that the "next generation Optical Image Stabilizer" was the same as the new IS in the Macro. Now that I think about it, x-y stabilization is important in a macro, but not so much in a long lens. The next gen IS is probably just faster and more precise.

One thing the CES rep mentioned is that the new lens has a 1ft shorter minimum focus distance, which is sweet (1.2m/3.94 ft. - maximum close-up magnification: 0.21x). I have the 200/2.8L and the 4.9 ft MFD can be a stretch when photographing something at your feet - and it only offers 0.16x magnification. It's nice when you can keep shooting with your long lens, rather than having to change over to a macro to get the shot.