Canon Might Make A Mirrorless Version Of The EOS-1D X, Exec Suggests

EOS-1D X Mark Ii Mirrorless
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Amateur Photographer editor Nigel Atherton had a talk with three top Canon executives to discuss the EOS R. In the excerpts below it’s Mr Shingo Hayakawa, Deputy Group Executive, ICB Optical Business Group, Image Communications Business Operations, to answer.

The interview is all about the new Canon EOS R mirrorless system.

AP: When you decided to make a full frame mirrorless camera what were the main priorities for the system?

SH: We started out thinking about the lenses we wanted to make and what the ideal lenses would be. That gave us the mount specifications and flange distance we needed. Only then did we start to consider how Canon could improve the main body. We decided that we wanted to make a completely new body, and to reconsider the ergonomics and operation so that it would be different from previous models. Our task is to give our customers more choice and then let them choose. […]

Do you think that in five years time, Canon will still be making new DSLR’s?

SH: Of course the situation is always changing and in the future, DSLRs will most likely experience a decline in popularity compared to mirrorless cameras, , but the optical viewfinder still has some advantages and we will continue to offer a choice for as long as our customers want it.

The next question is particularly interesting. In the answer Mr.  Shingo Hayakawa seems to suggest there will be a mirrorless versions of the EOS-1D X within 5 years.

AP: If there was a mirrorless version of the EOS- 1D X, do you think people would still buy the EOS- 1D X?

SH: We would guess that a mirrorless camera like that would be popular, and have already analysed which technology will be required in a camera in five years time.

Read the interview here.

What do you think, does this mean we have to wait 5 years to see a mirrorless version if the EOS-1D X?

3 Things You (probably) Did Not Know About The Canon EOS R

Canon Eos R Firmware Update
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The guys at LensVid had an interview with Canon Europe exec at Photokina 2018. Here is a short and fun follow up to the interview, with some information about the Canon EOS R you might have not known.

  1. Direct custom video settings – by pressing the video button in stills mode you can go directly into the custom video settings.
  2. Battery grip as a dual USB-charger – you can charge 2 of the camera’s batteries using USB if you have the EOS-R grip.
  3. Alway on BT – even if you turn off your camera and put it in your camera bag you can still access the images you shot from your smartphone or tablet via BT (we assume you can always choose to turn this off to save battery life).

And here is the video…

Canon EOS R world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

The “R” In Canon EOS R Stays For “Reimagine”, APS-C Model Not Possible, Canon Exec

Canon Eos R Firmware
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DC Watch interviewed Mr. Tsuyoshi Togura, Executive Officer, Canon Inc. Image Communication Division Headquarters.

Its seems the “R” in “Canon EOS R” doesn’t stay for “Revolution”, as was suggested during the Hawaii announcement. It means “Reimagine” followed by “Optical excellence”. At least this is what Mr. Tsuyoshi Togura said in the interview when asked about the “R”. I don’t think the machine translation can get it that wrong.

Machine translated excerpt from the interview:

[when asked about the meaning of “R” in EOS R]

Mr. Tsuyoshi Togura: The development concept word for this new system is “Reimagine optical excellence.” The letter “R” took the first letter of its first word “Reimagine”. However, in the development stage, various words such as “Revert”, “Reborn”, etc. with “R” flickered with the meaning of “redefining” EOS again “to reactivate”. As a result, we have developed the concept of “Reimagine optical excellence.” And decided to use “R” for both product name and system name. I felt that I could put down the feelings of the development team well.

About the advantages of the new RF mount, Mr. Tsuyoshi Togura says that the RF 28-70 mm F/2L and RF 50mm F/1.2L lenses would have been difficult to make for the EF mount because of the resulting size and weight. The RF 28-70 mm F/2L and especially the RF 50mm F/1.2L are the lenses to showcase the capabilities of the system. Mr Togura compares the latter to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.0, which had a comparable role for the EF mount when it was introduced.

And how do the EOS M and the EOS R relate to each other? From the answer we understand that the EOS M system has its own role on Canon’s agenda, and that the EOS R can not be adapted to APS-C format:

Since EOS R is a full-size system, it can not be downsized to EOS M size. EOS M has a role / existence value as an APS-C system.

Here again we think not much could have been get lost in (machine) translation. EOS M system is Canon’s APS-C mirrorless system, EOS R is the full frame system. No intersection, no EOS R with APS-C sensor, as some rumors suggested.

Read the interview here.

Another interview, a very interesting one, is here.

The Canon EOS R and RF lenses are in stock and ready to ship

Please use the links below to put your order (international shipping available).

Order the Canon EOS R in the USA: B&H Photo | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon

Order the Canon RF mount lenses in the USA: B&H Photo | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon

Availability should be given also at major retailers in Europe and around the world (you have to check for your country). Please use the links below.

Canon EOS R world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon RF mount lenses world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon and China Are Closely Connected, Canon China Exec Says In Interview

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China Daily posted an interview with Mr. Howard Ozawa, Executive vice-president of Canon Inc., president of Canon Asia Marketing Group, and president & CEO of Canon China.

The interview is a bit different from the interviews with industry execs we are used to read. If you take the short time needed to read it you’ll get what I mean. This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. China Daily interviewed top executives of well-known multinational companies for their views on the country’s socioeconomic development. Here is the interview with Canon.

Here are some excerpts:

Question: How has your company benefited from the country’s reform and opening-up policy?

Mr. Howard Ozawa: Canon and China have been closely connected with each other since the country began to implement the reform and opening-up policy. In 1979, Deng Yingchao, the wife of former premier Zhou Enlai, came to the Canon headquarters to meet our boss.

Our business in China includes production, research and development, and sales, which are very important segments in the whole value chain.

[…]

Question: What is the most unforgettable experience you have had in China?

Mr. Howard Ozawa: The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, and the Canon expos in 2011 and 2016 in Shanghai all left deep impressions on me.

Big sports events attract the media from all over the world. Whether they are photographers or journalists, we can see them in the stadium or in the news center. As most of their equipment is Canon, we set up an on-the-ground Canon professional service center, with professional staff to provide services, such as loaning cameras and lenses, as well as offering repair and maintenance.

Read the interview at China Daily.

Thanks Tom for sharing!

Canon Exec Confirms Three New Lenses for the Canon EOS R (and no EF lenses) in 2019, And A Pro Model Is Coming

Canon Eos R Firmware Update
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LensVid had a long interview at Photokina 2018 with Mike Burnhill from Canon Europe.

They talked about the Canon EOS R camera and new lens mount, future lens line, adaptors and different aspects of photographic technology.

There are a lot of interesting points in the interview, here are some excerpts:

  • Around minute 5:10 – The sensor in the EOS-R is from the same “family” of the 5D IV, however, Canon did change a few things like the microlenses as well as the ability to AF in low light (up to -6EV […])
  • Minute 9:00 – There is not a technical option to put an EOS-R [lens, editor’s note] on an EOS-M. The other way around is (maybe) possible but it will only be a macro lens according to Burnhill.
  • Minute 12:00 – Canon invented the dual card slot for cameras and it understand how it is important for reliability, however for the target market of this camera – Canon didn’t see the need to add it. However, Burnhill made it clear that a pro mirrorless camera will most likely include a dual card slot.
  • Minute 13:45 – The idea to add the multi-function controller came from a new Canon engineer (sort of crazy Google style experiment that actually got it to a final product and Canon wants to see how users will accept it and see if it is worth keeping for future cameras).
  • Minute 16:20 – Canon promised to release the “holy trinity” of lenses in 2019 (24-70mm, 70-200mm, 16-35mm).
  • Even more interesting – Canon will not introduce any new EF-mount lenses in 2019, but will focus all its efforts on RF lenses. New EF lenses will come later on (there are internal roadmaps for EF) but Canon knows it needs to catch up on its mirrorless lenses.
  • Minute 20:00 – Canon got some feedback on the eye-AF and the engineers are looking at ways to add this feature for continuous AF.

Wait! So, basically Canon is saying YES there will be a professional oriented EOS R and YES there will be 24-70mm (f/4?), 70-200mm and 16-35mm lenses for the EOS R coming in 2019. Better than all rumors, isn’t it? Our sources point to a high resolution EOS R to be announced before Photokina 2019.

Another interesting point: Canon is openly stating that they will not release new EF lenses in 2019. All efforts will go into the development of RF lenses. This shows how committed to the EOS R system Canon is.

Guess this interview anticipated most of the potential Canon EOS R rumors of the next 6-8 months.

Ok, time for the interview…

The Canon EOS R and RF lenses are in stock and ready to ship

Please use the links below to put your order (international shipping available).

Order the Canon EOS R in the USA: B&H Photo | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon

Order the Canon RF mount lenses in the USA: B&H Photo | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon

Availability should be given also at major retailers in Europe and around the world (you have to check for your country). Please use the links below.

Canon EOS R world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon RF mount lenses world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon Engineers Talk About The EOS R Project and its Future Possibilities (and to expect big things)

Canon Eos R Firmware Update
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At the Canon EOS R launch, DPReview had the chance to talk to Canon engineers involved in the design and development of the EOS R system. They are: Koji Yoshida – Lead Engineer/Architect, Integrated Design Department 232, Manabu Kato – Deputy Senior General Manager, ICD Optical Product Development Center, Shintaro Oshima – General Manager, ICB Product Development Div 1., Hironori Oishi – Lead Specialist, Product Design Div 1.

The interview starts discussing the RF mount, which, according to Canon is the real topic to be discussed, i.e. what the RF mount makes possible to develop (see this white paper).

Manabu Kato sums up the freedom they’ve gained in terms of optical design: “people who’ve been working on lenses for a really long time have, with this new system, been able to make lenses like the 28-70mm F2 comparably easily, compared to how they had so many challenges in the past.”

As well as allowing more ambitious optical designs, the RF mount also adds data bandwidth, moving from eight communication channels to twelve. “During shooting there’s a massive amount of data going between the lens and the camera, so making sure that was smooth was another challenge,” says Kato. “By having that huge amount of data being transferred between the camera and lens, you can improve the general performance in relation to autofocus, metering and image stabilization. And you can also add features such as the control rings on the lenses.” Read the interview here.

At the end of the interview, when asked about what the future might bring to the EOS R system, Mr. Manabu Kato said  “We want to surprise and astonish you, so please expect big things.”

We do. Please surprise us.

The Canon EOS R is in stock and ready to ship at major retailers in the USA and Europe

Canon EOS R at a glance:

  • 30.3MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 8 Image Processor
  • UHD 4K30 Video; C-Log & 10-Bit HDMI Out
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 5655 AF Points
  • 3.69m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3.15″ 2.1m-Dot Swivel Touchscreen LCD
  • Expanded ISO 50-102400, 8 fps Shooting
  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, SD UHS-II Card Slot
  • Multi-Function Bar, Dual Pixel RAW

Please use the links below to put your order (international shipping available).

Order the Canon EOS R in the USA: B&H Photo | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon

Order the Canon RF mount lenses in the USA: B&H Photo | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon

Availability should be given also at major retailers in Europe and around the world (you have to check for your country). Please use the links below.

Canon EOS R world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE

Canon RF mount lenses world-wide order links:

America: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA
Europe & UK: Amazon DE, Amazon UK, Amazon IT, Canon IT, WEX Photographic, Canon FR, Canon UK, Canon DE