I'm ready to purchase a Canon EOS 5D. For me it's a sizeable investment and a big decision.

Is this a good time?

Does anyone know if Canon is about to come out with a "new and improved" EOS 5D for half the price and I'll wish I had waited?

Thanks!

Chipper

Will Canon replace the current 5D with an improved model? Likely

Will it be at half the cost? Doubtful

The current 5D is a heck of a camera now and will still be a heck of a camera when the next model comes out. You could wait until the next model comes out, but then you wouldn't have a camera now. The question you have to ask yourself is "do I want a camera to use or do I want to own the latest and greatest?" If it's the latter, you'll keep running into the same question every time you think about buying

I currently shoot with a 5D. I love the image quality for my type of work (everything from landscapes to critters to still lifes to architecture). However, if you already have a camera with which you are happy and can wait until Sept for the next Canon releases, it may be worth holding off for a bit. One would hope a revamped 5D would include the anti-dust measures recently introduced (dust can be a big headache with the 5D), perhaps even greater bit depth ala the 1D3 and other enhancements. That said, if you don't have a DSLR or find yourself in urgent need of one, the 5D is a heck of an image producing piece of equipement and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't regret the purchase.

Personally, I'm waiting on whatever replaces the 1Ds2 before I buy another camera (and I hope it's announced in Sept!)

Cheers!

I'm so happy with my 5D I hope to ignore the next few "improved" cameras. My first DSLR was a 10d, and I skipped the 20D and 30D and the various others until I saved my pennies for the 5D. I don't need (or want) anything "better." Until this breaks, of course.

Generally the best time to buy a new camera is about 6 months ago. That way you got at least 6 months use out of it before the manufacturer brings out a new improved version.

Seriously, trying to find the best time to buy a particular camera, while understandable, is very difficult. Buying it just after it came out is risky as there is not much user feedback available (although websites like LL and DPreview are very useful when they get a camera tested early.) Buying it any time after 6 months post launch could mean a new model will come out 'soon'... Things get even trickier when there are rumours of a new rebate scheme for the 5D.

If you can afford a good camera like the 5D you should buy it in the knowledge that whatever happens you have a very good camera to use and enjoy from that moment.

Like you I have been waiting and trying to decide. I was hoping Canon might upgrade the 5D at PMA, but no-go. Trying to guess/predict what Canon (or any other camera maker) might do is about like second guessing the stock market I suppose. The 5D was introduced in August of 2005, so it will be at about 24 months this Fall - and one might assume an upgrade will be in order. On the other hand, the 1DsMKII is working on three years since upgrade?? (I think that's right?) One wonders of the camera manufacturers will begin slowing their releases/updates as the technology stabilizes.