Kodak DSC Pro SLR Body Boasts 14 MP Sensor and Canon Lens Mount

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.dpreview.com/news/0403/04031802kodakslrc.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.dpreview.com/news/0403/04031802kodakslrc.asp</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/newkodak.jpg" /> <br /><br />"Kodak today announced the all new DSC Pro SLR/c, a Canon mount version of the SLR/n which utilizes a new body made by Sigma (this isn't stated but is obvious). This announcement now brings Kodak back full circle to the 'good old' Kodak DCS days when they would have both a Nikon and Canon mount of each camera. Other than the obvious differences between a Nikon and Canon body there are also a few other subtle differences, the SLR/c is slightly smaller, has a 1/180 sec flash sync speed, a new AF system and a smaller LCD monitor. The SLR/c becomes the highest resolution Canon mount digital SLR, and a full 35 mm sensor to boot!"<br /><br />Interesting - if you have an investment in Canon lenses, Kodak has an appealing device for you. One feature stood out in particular:<br /><br />"Images can be saved as DCR raw files, normal JPEG files or ERI-JPEG files. The ERI-JPEG files serve as another form of picture protection for photographers, especially in situations where re-shooting is inconvenient. They provide two stops of exposure latitude and extended color space within a JPEG workflow - a benefit no competitor offers."<br /><br />Two extra stops of exposure might rescue those rare shots that you didn't have time to set up properly. The camera also has CF and SD/MMC slots, another future-proof benefit. Nice camera Kodak!

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Body isn't from Canon though, it's from &lt;gasp> Sigma.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Very, very nice. I particlularly like the 1:1 ratio for lenses. About time they did that on a Canon mount. Wonder what the price is though. 8O

[Suhit Gupta]

Very, very nice. I particlularly like the 1:1 ratio for lenses. About time they did that on a Canon mount. Wonder what the price is though. 8O
Cheapest I see it is about $6750 for the body alone. 8O

Suhit

[Jonathon Watkins]

Cheapest I see it is about $6750 for the body alone. 8O

:shocked!: OK - that's a LOT more than I thought it would be. Owch!

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

I thought the Nikon version is like $4999?

[Suhit Gupta]

Well, I just google'd for it and found it to be £3759 and with current conversion rate from £ to US$ (about 1.8 ), it worked out to about $6750. However, with a little more searching, I am finding that there are places that are selling it in the US itself and that is much cheaper, i.e. ZDnet claims to find low prices of $4495. Although, when you actually try to buy it from one of those online stores, it appears to be $4999.

Suhit

[Crocuta]

Ouch, that's still pretty expensive. Still, prices always come down and this is really what I've been waiting for in a digital SLR. Once I can get something like this in a sub-$2,000 range, then I'll finally toss my SLR. I'm still thinking it ought to be about 2 years.

[Philip Colmer]

There were two specification points that I think go some way to supporting the current price:

1. 14 MP CCD! That is a lot of pixels :D

2. The CCD is the same shape as 35mm film. This is particularly important when you remember that this supports Canon lenses as it overcomes problems that would have been experienced with wide-angle lenses on a "lesser" CCD.

This is a professional camera but that price is already significantly lower than where we might have seen professional bodies pitched a year or two ago.

--Philip

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

It's a fairly specific professional camera, that of a commercial/studio photog. Not to say it can't be used for other areas, but it's design is slanted towards that area.