[font color=\'#000000\']Hello Michael,
Actually I would like to believe your logic, and do believe some of that may be true, however from the way you describe it, it sounds like Canon is building a flintlock. Like the old gunmakers in the 17th century, one at a time.
I work in electronics, and I don't see why digital cameras, high end, have to be any different. I can't think of any other current electronic device that has such a issue. Laptops, TV's Stereo's all of which have more intellegence that a current digital camera that is still based on DOS. Your electronics inside all of the cameras are ribbon plug, preassembled. Yes you have some calibration issues, but so do you will any optical device.
As for the chip, the techology is out there, to make much larger chips at many locations throughout the world. If Canon chose to find one person to make all their chips, they should have learned from some of the PC vendors out there when they chose to have one component maker make all their gear. Once that vendor had trouble all bets were off.
Canon is a consumer based electronics company, and one of their products is cameras of which they do an excellent job. Frankly they have the only one 11mp camera period. They can charge what they want and will until someone else comes out with one. Look at the flush of 6mp's that we saw this year.
I have to laugh at Canon's response to you in regards to availability, "it will be very limited". Big deal, thats their problem. I mean if they can't figure out by now how to bring this type of technology to market in a good volume thats their problem. Now all the people who want one are calling their dealeras and placing orders and Canon loves that. What this is called is backlog creation.
I have always held your comments and articles in very high esteme, I do have to say that I am alittle disappointed in this type of aritcle. Especially the part where only the "true" pro should be tempted to use this camera.
Many of the "pros" have been sitting around waiting for digital to come closer to film, now they have it as your first review on the 1ds showed. So all the other people that have been the test bed for all these companies should just move out of the way, since this is such a highly developed tool.
Canon is playing the game, and for now playing it well. They are the only game in town.
I don't mean any disrespect to you or your site.
Paul Caldwell
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