Last Updated on 03/19/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
A new report suggests the next Mirrorless camera in Canon’s EOS R line-up may have a sensor bursting with megapixels.
As the Mirrorless race heats up, more and more reports are hitting the circuit in regards to what road Canon may take in regards to their next Mirrorless camera. We have already seen a mid-tier Mirrorless camera in the EOS R, and we now have the entry level EOS RP as well. So, where does Canon go next? If reports are to be believed, they will try to win users over with a 70MP monster.
A recent thread on Reddit brought an article to light which was posted on Canon Rumors. The reports suggests Canon has decided that the next camera in their Mirrorless space could feature a massive 70MP sensor, and that the camera could be announced in Q4 of 2019. The report also suggests that the new Mirrorless camera will also first in the series to feature IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization), will have two card slots, and feature a thumb stick to make navigating the camera easier. Is this the right move for Canon to make though?
A Mirrorless camera with 70MP sensor that could replace the aging Canon EOS 5DS and 5DSR certainly sounds nice, but I’m not sure that’s what Canon needs to focus on right now. There are so many photographers clamoring for a pro-body Mirrorless camera that could replace, or at least sit alongside, the Canon 1DX Mk II. To me it would make much more sense to focus on a camera that would appeal to that group.
The Canon 1DX Mk II is a workhorse of a camera that can be found in the hands of thousands upon thousands photo journalists and sports photographers around the globe. Many photographers who wanted a Mirrorless camera that could stand up to the rigors of fast paced, high intensity sports photography jumped ship and went over to Sony’s a9 and haven’t looked back. The Sony a9 is a beast. Just watch any sporting event and you will see more and more Sony cameras along the sidelines. A few years ago all you would ever see were Canon 1Dx Mk II’s and Nikon D4’s and D5’s; that’s not the case anymore.
I’m not saying a high Megapixel camera aimed at high-end fashion photographers and serious landscape photographers would be all bad, but from a business standpoint (and lets face it, Canon is incredibly worried about the shrinking market), it makes more sense to cater to a section of the market that is crying out for a new camera.
“…but I’m not so sure that’s what Canon needs to focus on right now.”
If the news of a new 70MP sensor is true then there is no way it will be placed into a camera that is aimed at action and sports photography. Unless Canon has some wizardry up their sleeves (the likes of which we haven’t seen for some time) there is no way such a massive sensor could fire off enough frames to compete with fast action. No, it would be used in a Mirrorless camera that would be used to replace the 5DS and DSR. This will no doubt please those who work in the fashion and fine arts industry, but the number of photographers working in that field is small compared to the amount who are photo journalists and sports photographers.
This is of course my own opinion, but it seems to me Canon isn’t reading the market correctly. They are making beautiful (although massive), new, RF Mount lenses that will no doubt be able to help resolve all of the amazing detail that a 70MP sensor could capture, but the market doesn’t need that right now. Canon needs to listen to their users yelling at the top of their lungs for a pro body that’s tough as nails, has ultra fast focusing, excellent tracking capabilities, and weather proofing that could allow the camera survive a great flood. Come on Canon, give us the Canon EOS RDX, and focus on trying to take the highest Megapixel Full Frame Mirrorless camera crown later on.
What do you think about a new Canon camera with a 70MP sensor? Is it what Canon needs to focus on, or do they need to re-draw their road map? Let us know in the comment section below.