Canon 5D Mark III replacement might not record 4K videos

Canon may not add 4K video recording capabilities to the rumored EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR camera, which will allegedly replace the EOS 5D Mark III in early 2015.

The rumor mill appears to be certain that Canon will issue a successor to the 5D Mark III in 2015, after Nikon has launched the D810 this year.

The Nikon D800/D800E series has been a direct competitor to the Canon 5D Mark III, so this is why it is natural to assume that a 5D Mark IV is coming soon, as a means to compete against the aforementioned D810.

Several unnamed sources have revealed that the image sensor of the upcoming device will not only feature a high megapixel count, but the ability to record 4K videos, too.

Nevertheless, a trusted source is pointing out the fact that the DSLR might not gain such capability, which will be reserved for the Cinema EOS line-up.

Canon 5D Mark III replacement will not feature 4K video support after all

Canon 5D Mark III has been praised for its videography features. Its replacement, the 5D Mark IV, has been said to be capable of recording 4K videos. However, a new report is suggesting otherwise.

First of all, we should mention that everything is based on rumors. Canon has not announced any plans to launch a 5D Mark III successor.

Moreover, the purported 5D Mark IV launch is scheduled to take place “sometime” in early 2015. Everything is pretty vague and such information, that points to very distant things, is very hard to be taken for granted.

Canon’s Cinema EOS series consists of camcorders and a DSLR. The latter is the EOS 1D C, which can capture 4K videos along with the EOS C500 camcorder. However, the C100 and C300 are unable to do so. If Canon adds 4K to its photography-bound DSLRs, then its Cinema EOS series might become obsolete.

From this point of view, the source says that it would not make sense to add 4K to the Canon 5D Mark III replacement, as the growth of its cinema line-up could stop.

Videographers represent a small portion of 5D Mark III’s total buyers

The other reason why 4K might not make it into the Canon 5D Mark IV is the the fact photographers, not videographers, are the ones purchasing the 5D Mark III.

Nikon has chosen a big-megapixel route for the D800 and D800E, while Canon has decided to go for extensive video-related features.

However, a Canon insider has revealed some partial results of a recent market research conducted by the company. It appears that fewer than 10% of all 5DMK3 users have bought the DSLR for its videography tools.

By the looks of it, photographers will remain the company’s main focus when considering the future of the 5D series. In the meantime, Canon EOS 5D Mark III is available for purchase at Amazon for a price around $3,200.