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2011 Overview
Before you can answer the trio of rhetorical questions posed above, you have to define exactly what you mean by a pro DSLR, and that isn’t as easy as you might think. Everyone would agree, for example, that the redoubtable 24.5 megapixel Nikon D3X ($7,599.95*) and the formidable 21.1MP Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III ($6,999) are full-fledged top-of-the-line professional DSLRs. Both these impressive full-frame behemoths are designed to deliver superb high-res performance under practically any shooting conditions, including combat, and they have the body castings and weather sealing to prove it.
Not far behind in terms of price, heft, robustness, durability and performance are pro DSLRs like the 12.1 megapixel Nikon D3S ($5,199.95) and the 16.1MP Canon EOS-1D Mark IV ($4,999). Both are clearly pro models offering firepower that’s actually superior to the official company flagships: the D3S can shoot full-frame bursts at 9 frames per sec while the APS-H format 1D Mark IV delivers bursts at 10 fps.
All four members of this illustrious upscale quartet are indeed used by pros lucky enough to afford them, or to have some news agency or TV station pick up the tab. However, there’s another class of pro DSLRs that actually outsells the top four by a comfortable margin among folks who buy their own equipment and earn their living shooting pictures. They’re called prosumer DSLRs, a term that has always struck me as slightly pejorative, like calling someone a semipro photographer.
If the definition of a pro camera is a camera used by pros, then cameras like the full-frame 12.1MP Nikon D700 ($2,699.95), the 24.6MP Sony Alpha A900 ($2,699.99) and the 21.1MP Canon EOS 5D Mark II ($2,499) definitely qualify. All three provide robust construction (albeit not at quite the same tank-like level as the top four) and pro-caliber imaging performance; the 5D Mark II offers 1080p HD video capability which has made it a best seller.
It’s also worth noting that a fair number of pros use enthusiast-aimed cameras like the Canon EOS 7D, Nikon D7000, Pentax K-5 and the Olympus E-5. To cover the upper end of the pro DSLR price/quality spectrum, we’ve also included a few medium-format models.
From a dealer’s perspective, pro and prosumer DSLRs have several characteristics that make them an attractive proposition. They’re big-ticket items, and the customers who purchase them tend to acquire fast high-end, pro-caliber lenses, (like 24–70mm and 70–200mm f/2.8s), state-of-the-art lighting systems, high-speed high-capacity memory cards, et al. That’s why targeting a professional clientele simply makes good business sense. Another factor that’s often overlooked is the long shelf life of pro/prosumer DSLRs. While today’s entry-level and mid-range DSLRs typically have a shelf life of 12 to 18 months before they’re superseded, pro and prosumer models hang in there for years, minimizing the risk of sudden price drops and the need for deep dealer discounts. A classic example is the Canon EOS 5D that debuted in 2005, was upgraded to the 5D Mark II in 2008 and is still a mainstay of the Canon line. Ironically, the longevity of pro and prosumer DSLRs has resulted in the curious phenomenon that the enthusiast and entry-level models are often leading the high-tech new-feature charge; just peruse the spec sheets of the Nikon D7000 and the Canon EOS Rebel T3i to see what I mean.
What exciting advances in technology and features are we likely to see in the next generation of pro DSLRs? I spoke with half a dozen top techs in the field on the condition of anonymity, and with the understanding that they wouldn’t reveal any specific details of their companies’ future models. The consensus: We are currently at something of a technological plateau in the pro DSLR sector, and most technological advances in the immediate future are likely to come in the form of incremental upgrades rather than stunning breakthroughs. Examples: The speed, accuracy and possibly the tracking performance of AF systems will be upgraded; many manufacturers will focus on improving low-noise performance at high ISOs rather than just upping the number of megapixels; image-processing software will be enhanced to address workflow issues with large files and HD video; and burst rates and overall responsiveness will gradually be increased.
The Pro DSLR HD Video AF Dilemma
To give you some insight into why devising dramatic advances will be challenging, let’s take a brief look at the HD video AF dilemma. Since more pros—including wedding, events, sports, fashion and news photographers—are being asked to provide pro-caliber videos in addition to still images, HD video enhancements like AF and focus tracking are a hot topic. A pro-level DSLR with these features would certainly have a leg up in the marketplace. The problem is that existing systems, like the ones in the Nikon D7000 and Sony and Olympus interchangeable-lens compact cameras, employ contrast-detection AF, which works by focusing quickly back and forth through the point of optimum focus until the subject contrast of the live-view image is maximized. This system works reasonably well with short focal-length lenses of moderate aperture that cover the APS-C format, but it’s too slow to provide seamless AF with full-frame DSLRs using wide-aperture lenses.
To provide seamless pro-caliber autofocus when shooting HD video with a pro DSLR, the best system is phase-detection AF, which identifies the subject and moves directly to the point of focus without dithering back and forth. So far, the only SLR-like cameras that have achieved this are the Sony SLT A55 and A33, which are broad-spectrum cameras configured like SLRs but feature electronic viewfinders (EVF) instead of optical viewfinders and use a semi-transparent mirror behind the lens to reflect a substantial portion of the incoming light to the phase-detection AF (autofocus) sensors. Sony calls this system Translucent Mirror technology.
It will be fascinating to see how the next generation of pro DSLRs solves the sticky problem of providing simultaneous AF, focus tracking and video capture along with the benefits of an optical viewfinder. Will they come up with a radically new approach or simply improve the performance of off-the-sensor contrast-based AF systems? Stay tuned.
Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. Built to high-end-pro standards with a rugged magnesium alloy body sealed against moisture and dust, the signature features of this camera are its large, but not full-frame, APS-H 16.1MP CMOS sensor and its blazing 10-fps continuous framing rate. Other key specs: dual Digic 4 image processors; ultra-fast 45-point AF; 1080p HD video with a recording area of 27.9×15.7mm for enhanced image quality; and ISO settings to 102,400 with minimal noise. $4,999. usa.canon.com
Nikon D3S. Constructed to professional standards using weatherproof silicon-sealed magnesium alloy components, this impressive full-frame 12.1MP DSLR can shoot at 9 fps in FX format or 11 fps in DX format, has ISO settings from 200–12,800 expandable to ISO 102,400 in Hi 3 mode and provides improved D-movie functionality for 720p HD. Other features: 51-point AF; 3D color matrix metering II; 100% viewfinder; and dual, sequential CompactFlash card slots for enhanced data storage. $5,199.95. nikonusa.com
Olympus E-5. The latest iteration of the solid, weather-sealed pro/prosumer-aimed Olympus E-series Four Thirds-format DSLRs, the E-5 boasts a 12.3MP Live-MOS sensor, a True Pic V+ image processor, ISO settings to 6400, 720p HD video capability and its signature feature—a 3.0-inch dual-axis 270° swiveling HyperCrystal 920,000-dot LCD. It also provides 10 built-in art filters and multiple exposure, accepts CF as well as SDHC/SDXC memory cards, and has 11-point dynamically adjustable AF. $1,699.99. olympusamerica.com
Pentax K-5. This newly upgraded successor to the rugged, weatherproof prosumer classic K-7 features a low-noise 16.3MP APS-C format sensor and delivers an impressive burst rate of 7 fps. A new high-performance Prime II image-processing system improves speed and image quality, and it now has 1080p Full HD video capability, built in HDR, a 3.0-inch LCD, 77-segment evaluative metering and ISOs from 80–51,200. Its weather-sealed magnesium alloy-clad body is built on an aluminum chassis and includes enhanced built-in image stabilization and a built-in electronic level with tilt scale display in live view. The K-5 Limited Silver kit is now available for $1,699.95. pentaximaging.com
Sony Alpha A900. The archetypical pro/prosumer DSLR still sets the standard in its price class with a full-frame 24.6MP Exmor CMOS sensor, a remarkably compact weather-sealed magnesium body, bright 100% high-eye-point viewfinder and SteadyShot Inside built-in image stabilization. Other key features: 5-fps burst rate; dual Bionz image processors; dual-card slots; and intelligent preview that displays the effects of changing ISO, shutter speed, aperture, dynamic range optimizer, etc. $2,699.99. sony.com
Sigma SD1. And now for something entirely different! Sigma’s latest pro-aimed DSLR features a new higher res, bigger (APS-C format) version of the unique three-layer Foveon X3 image sensor that works like film to deliver full-color information at each pixel location. Since each of the RGB layers is 16MP, the total is a staggering 46 megapixels. Other upgrades include a Dual True II image processing engine, 11-point twin-cross AF sensor and a 3.0-inch LCD—all built into an upgraded magnesium body with O-ring-sealed buttons and enhanced weatherproofing. Price TBA. sigmaphoto.com
Medium-Format Pro DSLR Trio
Hasselblad H4D-40. This classic, modular, medium-format DSLR features a digital back with a big 33.1×44.2mm, 40 megapixel sensor and a complete line of high-performance lenses for exceptional image quality. Its exclusive True Focus technology and Absolute Position Lock (APL) employs a yaw sensor that measures and logs the camera movement when recomposing a shot and makes the necessary focus adjustments to achieve critical sharpness. Other features: a 3.0-inch 230,400-pixel LCD; exposure times to four minutes; AF-assist lights; and an accessory tilt-shift adapter. $17,995. hasselbladusa.com
Leica S2. Configured like a 35mm-based DSLR, this remarkably compact, ergonomically contoured medium-format DSLR is extremely rugged and fully weather sealed to withstand the rigors of hard field use. It features a large 30x45mm, 37.5MP high-performance CCD, and its expanding line of German-made Leica S lenses is of “reference standard” quality. Its simplified menus and well-placed controls are designed for fast, intuitive operation. Other features: 3.0-inch 460,000-dot LCD; color OLED info display; dual focal plane and in-lens shutter system; and dual CF/SD card slots. $22,995. leica-camera.com
Mamiya M645DF. This easy-handling modular medium-format DSLR is designed to interface with a variety of pro camera systems, and it is available with digital backs ranging from 33MP (DM33/DF, 48x36mm CCD) and 40MP (DM40/DF, 44x33mm CCD) to 56MP (DM56/DF, 56x36mm CCD). The standard lens is a Sekor 80mm f/2.8 series D, and the camera is fully compatible with Mamiya AF focal-plane lenses, Mamiya 645 MF and Hasselblad V-series lenses. Other features: 6x7cm touch-screen LCD; integrated spot metering; integrated image settings; and ISO range 50–800. M645DF body, $5,990; DM33/DF back, $14,990. mamiya-usa.com
* All prices are body only, unless otherwise specified.
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