speculations about the new "eos 105d" (?) -- which was long thought to be eos "150d"
Rumor had it that in August the successor of the eos 100d would be introduced. Now, having only one Monday left of August, today bing the 29th and Saturday, chances are like there will be no such announcement - but this is not just the point…
Speculations like Canon rumors are of a special kind, they are all based on analogies and observations - the same way as early humans observed how the seasons worked. These analytic speculations about the next phases of the organic concerto of human-made mass products (mass produced tools), are actually the same thing as Canon's creative departments do. So, even when the prognosis fails, it all has not been just a waste of time cause trying to understand (and learn) the logic of the changes around us is really one of the highest level intellectual activities.
As for the "eos 150d", the prognosis was well justifiable about both August and the new model number. There was, however, a nice leap in the speculative thinking, an article at northlight-images mentioned that there's a shortage in model numbers starting with 100, that is, if they keep stepping up by 50, they'll reach the beginning of the cycle, the 300d in just 3 steps. So, they suggested that a next 100d could be 110d instead of 150d.
With this creative theory the only problem that remains is the leap by 10 between eos 750d and 760d where the difference of 10 reflects a “horizontal" difference, distinguishing between two models within the same generation and the same class. The 750d and 760d are A and B versions of the same model, the 750d being the “light" version, or rather, since the the multiples of 50 denote the official new version, we can say that the 760d is the “with extras" version of the 750d.
This would still allow Canon switching for the step by 10 formula, however, the basic concept is that between two consecutive models there is a leap. As time goes on, we'll all of a sudden change from 300d to 350d. That is, the changing (the development) is continuous, but there are milestones. Having this increment by 10 between the 760d and 750d, if a 110d came out, it'd be interpreted as a “horizontal" step, as if the 110d got some extras but it was principally the same camera with no leap-like improvement. But having more than 2 years passed since the premiere of the 100d, this horizontal concept with “more extras" would not make sense. And that's why stepping up by 5 appears to be an adaptable new naming convention.
Moreover, “105d" simply looks better than "110d" :) The meaning of “105d" is a more attractive image (not independently of the fact the 5 has been Canon's magic number for quite long already). Also, if Canon wants to surprise us with an extra-rebellious move, they could bring out a 106d too, with a movable screen :)
some thoughts from the “degrowth" aspect
This time the rumors did not work, at least not accurately. The deviations, however - the smaller increments instead of 50, and the delay - were totally due. Due to a new phenomenon, “degrowth", a new condition of economies (and developed civilization) in which growth, as it used to work, is not viable anymore without causing damages, wasting resources, etc. With degrowth, a new kind of logic sets in which we can see in the snails' shells, sort of like growing inwards,so, it is no accident that the French degrowth movement has the snail as their symbol. This logic, by the way, you can already find in SDHC memory cards, for example, where you have more and more memory capacity based on the same amount of material and a more developed technology. It's as if being able to build more houses (of the original size) on the same site.
The state of degrowth in the Canon product line could be identified, in the “00" class, with the 600d which was a perfect camera, had it all, and there's been no hard reason for a photographer so far to replace it. The digic 5 processor, of course, was an improvement, but by now we all begin to understand what “having the same old sensor" means, see the 650d which really has at no point taken over the 600d. Also, by the 750d-760d couple, from a photographer's point of view, canon only threw in the touchscreen operation. Yes, it's better altogether, yet it's the “same old" thing at the core of it as in 2012.
The 105d is a strategic new phase not only in the product line but also in the history of photography, cause it's purely about functionality, usability, and small size is finally a key advantage openly, breaking up with the old concept that a more professional camera is the one that is better in terms of usability and bigger in size. Now we all know that Martin Munkacsi or Robert Capa would not go for the bigger cameras and the more “professional" look, but for the compactness and usability. So, when the 105d finally comes out, it'll start a new era in history, a new period of “rebelling" - and it will be a better choice than both the 750d-760d couple and the M3 and M4, which is probably the very reason why it is still not allowed to come out, even though it can't be held back very much longer either.