Rumor: More On Canon’s Extra Small DSLR (should be announced very soon)

After the rumor we got yesterday concerning a super-small DSLR that Canon’s is supposed to have in work, today we have a new information tidbit. We have been informed that the new smaller-than-a-Rebel DSLR should be announced very soon, possibly before end of March or during the first weeks of April.

This DSLR is rumored to be the lightest and smallest DSLR Canon has ever made and it will not be part of the Rebel/EOS xxx(x)D line-up. The rumor is totally plausible, though it is the first time I hear about such a DSLR. However, there are some patents that legitimate the rumor to some degree, for instance this patent about a very small optical view-finder. The interesting thing about the patent is that the viewfinder is a lot smaller than current optical view-finders. It appears to be the perfect solution for a new super small Canon DSLR. Exciting!

 

Rumor: Is Canon Working On An Extra Small DSLR?

I got this rumor, it is the first time I hear about that. And here it comes…

The rumor says that Canon will announce a new entry-level DSLR that is not part of the Rebel/xxxD line. A DSLR that aims at the budget-conscious customers out there. This DSLR is said to be the lightest and smallest DSLR Canon has ever made. The source also says that this new extra-small DSLR is an attempt to counter the not so good selling figures of the Canon EOS M (price & specs). In other words: Canon will try to offer a small and compact DSLR as alternative to the EOS M. A DSLR that is almost as small and light as a mirrorless camera. The new DSLR will support EF and EF-S lenses, and it should not have the AF issues of the EOS M. And there should be also a new kit zoom lens for this new, super-small DSLR, a kit zoom that is also said to be light-weighted and of small size.

I do not really know how Canon can make a DSLR much smaller than a Rebel. There are for sure some possibilities to make it smaller, and for sure to make it lighter (using more plastic?). The question is: how small and compact it can get.

That’s it!

 

More Canon Rumors: EOS 6D Firmware Update And Some EOS 7D Mark II Specs

EOS 7D Mark II

It’s rumors day today. After the rumor about a next to come announcement of the EOS 70D, more is coming out of the rumor mill.

First rumor: Canon will release a firmware update for the EOS 6D (price & specs). Besides tweaks and fixes, the firmware update should deliver f/8 autofocus at the center point, and the AI servo indicator could also be added. The expected release date for the firmware is May/June 2013.

Second rumor: apparently there are some prototypes of the EOS 7D Mark II out in the wild. One of the prototypes of the successor of the EOS 7D (price & specs) has an internal grip, making the body look a little like a mini EOS-1D X (price & specs). It looks like a bigger battery allows for better auto-focus on bigger lenses. The EOS 7D Mark II is expected to be announced end of summer or in fall. This was anticipated by Nippon Magazine some weeks ago.

There is a good EOS 7D deal at Adorama: refurbished EOS 7Ds for $979 (click here).

Canon EOS 6D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon EOS 7D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via CR]

 

Update #2 – Canon EOS 70D May Be Announced On March 22

EOS 70D
The Canon EOS 60D

UPDATE 2: another invitation showed up (CR), for March 22nd:

UPDATE: CR reports that product announcement invites have been sent out for March 21, 2013 in the Czech Republic, see below:

There is something going on, no doubt about that.

I previously reported that one of the prediction made by Nippon Magazine we reported first here at Canon Watch got a confirmation. Possible, rumored announcement dates for the EOS 70D were the 19th or 26th of March 2013. Nippon Magazine predicted an EOS 70D announcement for March.

Now there is a new rumor stating that the EOS 70D could be announced on March 22nd. A possible product announcement by Canon could happen that day. Let’s wait and see. However, it is definitely time for  Canon to announce the Canon EOS 70D.

There are no specifications for the upcoming successor of the Canon EOS 60D (refurbished with the EF-S 18-135mm IS lens for $829 at B&H and Adorama), except that it should bring the xxD line-up to a more pro level, as the EOS 50D still was. In other words: compared to the EOS 60D the EOS 70D will push specification to a higher level.

Canon EOS 60D price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via PR]

Possible Next EOS M Specifications Leaked (24MP, Better AF, Viewfinder, $999)

Next EOS M Specifications

We know that Canon is most probably working on a successor of the not so popular Canon EOS M (price & specs). Not so very well selling because of all the bad press it got for the sluggish auto-focus system. Now we have the first possibly next EOS M specifications leaked:

  • 24mp APS-C Sensor
  • New generation AF system
  • DIGIC V
  • Removable Electronic Viewfinder (Very high resolution)
  • Optional grip attachment
  • 5fps
  • Slightly larger than the current EOS M
  • Introduced with 3 more lenses
  • $999 USD

Sounds somewhat like a wish list, but who knows. We know there will be more EF-M lenses. Finally, an entry level EOS M with a price tag of around $500 is also rumored.

Canon EOS M price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via Canon Rumors]

 

Nippon Camera Magazine Predicts Next Canon Announcements (70D, T5i, EOS Me, 7D2, 3D)

Nippon Camera Magazine

This showed up on pentaxforums. Japanese photographic magazine Nippon Camera Magazine published a graph with supposed Canon camera names and announcement dates. These are

  • Canon EOS 70D in March
  • Canon EOS Kiss X7i (Rebel T5i/EOS 700D) in June
  • Canon EOS Me (next mirrorless camera) in July
  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II in September
  • Canon EOS 3D (the mighty big megapixel DSLR) in October

What do you think?