@KarlKrueger wrote:
Maybe this is getting sidetracked but you give some indication of functionality put into the different models. I see no pattern with the 6D/60D 7D/7Dii/70D. It seems each model has a slight upgrade in something but I'm not seeing anything that really makes them stand out from each other.
So are we pretty much at the limit of what our current technology will allow and that is why all these cameras are so similar except for having the next version of Digic included? I should add WiFi and the touch screen LCD were neat upgrades in the later models but I know others with the 7D or 6D that won't upgrade simply because of that.
Well, you're not looking at the model grouping properly. Canon has the XXXD line (e.g. 700D). It's the Rebel branding in the US, and the entry level dSLR.
The step up from that is XXD line, such as the 70D, which supersedes the 60D. This line has a better build, some weather sealing, more functions, faster processors, and some technology that hasn't trickled down to the Rebel line yet. For example, the 70D introduced dual pixel focus. This technology will probably trickle down to the Rebel line eventually. Things like AFMA and a lot of the custom functions could easily be brought to the Rebel line, without increasing costs, but Canon won't do that to help differentiate the lines.
The XD line has several different cameras, that aren't necessarily related. They're all good cameras, and can shoot most types of photography, but the feature sets usually gear them towards a certain type of photography. The XD line is often referred to as the pro line, but there really isn't a formal distinction. Most of the XD are full frame, meaning the sensor is much bigger, the exception being the 7D/7D2. This is Canon's top level crop sensor and it's designed around wildlife and action photography. It has a very fast burst rate, very fast processors, a ton of the "pro level" functions and features, a very durable build, etc. The 6D is actually a remake, of sorts of the 5D2. When Canon released the 5D3 the bumped the price point up significantly, so they made the 6D, which is very similar to the popular 5D2. The main difference between the 5d3 and 6D is the autofocus system. Both have terrific low light ability and make them popular for event photographers, but the the 5d3 AF separates the two lines for those that have the need. The 1D series is the top of the line, rugged, pro line camera with the best sealing, most features, top sensor, and highest price tag.
