I'm sorry but unfortunately this is going to sound a bit like a rant. I'm a camera geek obviously and love checking out all the new gear that comes out and IBC (International Broadcasting Convention) is a place where alot of big players debut/unveil/release/announce their new gear.
The Canon 7D mkII - a totally underwhelming camera. image - redsharknews.com
I have been a user of Canon gear now (I have 3 Canon cameras) for quite a while and their gear produces great results for me and clients I've worked with but whilst companies such as Samsung, Sony, Axiom, Lumix, JVC all showed off their latest 4k cameras at IBC, Canon decided to finally grace us with the 7D mkII. This camera was totally underwhelming for a camera that has been 5 years in the making. Video wise the only real differences from the camera that was originally released in 2008 besides the updated sensor making it better in low light was the ability to shoot at 60 fps, which would be a decent addition if cheaper cameras (namely the Panasonic GH4) couldn't do up to 96 fps in fullHD. I have even seen abit of humor across a few camera boards/forums where Canon have turned into the butt of many a joke. A fine example:
“Canon 7D mkII - Best new camera of 2010”
Samsung enter the camera market with a bang. 4k with super 35mm sensor for sub $2000 internally stored on SD cards in the new super efficient H.265 codec. image - redsharknews.com
My position with camera gear is quite stable at the moment. Atleast for probably the next 12 months I will not need to upgrade and by then, companies and their 4k cameras will have had time to iron out any kinks they may have encountered in their first 12 months or so. But as of the market right now, I will not be going with another Canon camera. They seem almost resistant to change. I understand they are in a difficult predicament. In that they do not want to add 4k to the 'Cheaper' dslr cameras for fear of crippling their high end cinema camera range, (as of right now the only Canon Cameras to do 4k are the c500 which is close to $20,000 and the Canon 1DC which is approx. $12,000) but unfortunately for them they have been backed into a corner where they have to do something because if they keep the status quo, shooters similar to myself will continue to abandon what seems like a sinking ship. They are basically caught in what they say is 'between a rock and a hard place'.
Some big decisions need to be made at Canon and anyway they go is probably going to ruffle the feathers of their current user base already and probably costs them in the short term. But as the way I see it right now. They are in an untenable position..