Canon EOS 5D X / 5D Mark III / 6D rumours: what you need to know

In our continuing look at some the new digital cameras hotly tipped for release in 2012, we cast our attention to the Canon EOS 5D - or will it be the Canon EOS 5D Mark III that is the Canon 5D Mark II replacement.

Canon EOS 5D X / 6D / 5D Mark III specs and price

Canon's APS-C format EOS 7D puts some aspects of the full-frame EOS 5D Mark II's specification in the shade, so it is likely that when we finally see a Canon announcement for an EOS 5D Mk II replacement, the successor will have a feature set that at least matches, if not tops, the semi-pro level EOS 7D.

Update February 2012:Latest rumours suggest that the Canon 5D Mark III will include a 22 million pixel sensor, 7.5 fps shooting and 61 AF points.

There have been several suggestions that the 5D line could be split, with the following round-up specs for both cameras:

5D Mark III specs:

22 million pixel full-frame sensor
61 AF points
5 - 7.5 fps shooting
Built in GPS tagging
Digic 5 processing
ISO expandable up to 51, 200

5D X specs:

45 million pixel full-frame sensor
3.4fps shooting
ISO 100-6400 (expandable up to 12,800)
Dual Digic processors

Update June 2011: The EOS 5D MKII video capability has proved a major draw for professional photographers, especially photo journalists. It's therefore very likely that Canon will enhance the video feature for the EOS 5D MK III or EOS 6D.

A key change is likely to be an extension in the range of frames rates that are available at full resolution. Full 1080p at 60fps seems a safe bet.

Canon EOS 5D X / 6D / 5D Mark III release date

Update February 2012: It seems unlikely that Canon would want to be too far behind its biggest rival Nikon, which just announced the Nikon D800, the likely main competitor to the next 5D.

Therefore, if Canon announces a new camera in the immediate future, we would expect availability to be around March - April 2012.

Initial rumours suggested that the new camera would be announced at the CP+ show inJapan during early February, but as that came and went, the next date firmly in the frame is 28th February, or perhaps early Marc h.

Canon EOS 5D X / 6D / 5D Mark III: name

Update February 2012: At present there are three potential names in circulation for top billing.

The 5D Mark III would suggest that the camera is another "upgrade" rather than entirely new offering, while the 5D X would be following in the lines of the 1D X, which was announced in October 2011.

Initially, it was rumoured that the camera may be called the 6D, but these suggestions seem to have somewhat tailed off in recent months, leading us to think that Canon would prefer to stick with the reputation the 5D's name has.

Another recent rumour suggests that the line could in fact be split off into two categories, with both a 5D X and 5D Mark III making an appearance.

While this is a possibility, we find it somewhat hard to believe, given that Canon has already consolidated its 1D line-up. However, given that Nikon's D800 has just been released with a 36 million pixel sensor, a higher resolution 5D could be Canon's retaliation.

Canon EOS 5D X / 6D / 5D Mark III review

Once the Canon 5D Mark III / Canon 6D / 5D X release date is announced, We will be first to bring you an in-depth review that tests in full all of the 5D X / 5D Mark III /6D specs and features. So bookmark this page and watch this space, because we have a feeling that a Canon 5D X/ 6D / EOS 5D Mark III review will be appearing here very soon.

See the next page for 10 features we'd like to see on the new camera.