A New DSLR Line from Canon? [CR1]

[Canon Rumors]

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Smaller than a Rebel?
Reports are out there that Canon may be working on a DSLR that is smaller and lighter than the current Rebel line. The camera would be an alternative to the EOS M line and possess all the DSLR performance you would expect, especially in the AF department.

We’ve seen some patents in the past that point to a smaller DSLR camera with an EVF. The only thing the camera probably requires is a certain depth to handle EF & EF-S lenses. It’s the first we’ve seen of it, but it’s definitely possible.

Source: [CW] via [DC]

cr

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

Interesting - although probably not for me.  Still, it would probably appeal to me more than the M just because of natively accepting EF/EF-S mounts.

[CanNotYet]

AHA! I knew this was coming. Basically a 1100D optimized (native) for EOS-M with EVF. Bring it!

[pierlux]

Is this guy possibly meant to be the replacement of the 1100D/T3? A smaller- & lighter-than-a-rebel DSLR would appeal to many owners of the bigger brothers as an alternative to rangefinder, mirrorless and compact cameras.

Maybe the first sign that the long coveted differentiation of Canon's APS-C line is finally coming.

As a new DSLR line, may this be the object of the forthcoming March 22 event instead of the 70D?

*edit* @CanNotYet: more or less what I'm thinking, but I don't know about the EVF, and don't believe it will have native EF-M mount, if that's what you mean, though.

[Albi86]

Seems like a nice lightweight/travel solution.

[dilbert]

If it is much smaller than a Rebel then how will you hold it?

[Jokke_r]

Would be pretty interesting if they could get it down to the size of about an old school manual focus SLR. No popup flash, no top lcd, somewhat smaller non flippy read lcd, no obvious grip area. It's possible, they would only need to be a little higher to fit the AF sensor below the mirror box.

[zim]

If it is much smaller than a Rebel then how will you hold it?

As well as an M I guess!

Sounds like they are on a much better track with something like that and they do need to develop EVF don't they.

[miejoe]

Could it actually have both DSLR-like AF and an EVF?

Doesn't the reflex mirror required for phase detection AF force you to use an optical viewfinder?

I don't see them mimicking Sony's SLT system. I guess they could use a translucent flip-up mirror, enabling both phase detection and a sort of live view at reduced brightness/sensitivity. Seems pretty far-fetched to me though...

[lol]

Even if we accept a minimum thickness due to the spacing of mount to sensor, a DSLR body could be much smaller. Look at compact film SLRs to see how small we might possibly go. We can save a bit of thickness by not having the display behind where the sensor is. If you go EVF, arguably you could ditch the main screen totally to help get size right down. But if you go EVF, to me that implies a Sony SLT like arrangement.

[mws]

If it is much smaller than a Rebel then how will you hold it?

Agree, I don't have huge hands, just a average guy and even with a grip on my 5D I wish I had more to hold onto.

[facedodge]

EVF with mirror doesn't make sense unless they are copying Sony. They'll have to move the sensor farther back to reduce thickness and I'm not sure if they can do that.

CR says there are ways it can be done. I would have been nice to link to some earlier stories on patents or something.

[neuroanatomist]

Could it actually have both DSLR-like AF and an EVF?

Doesn't the reflex mirror required for phase detection AF force you to use an optical viewfinder?

They could bring back the pellicle mirror, but angled the other way.  Actually, such a system (reverse-angled fixed mirror and EVF only) would remove the geometric limitation on AF point spread, in theory allowing phase AF points to cover a much larger area of the field...

[KyleSTL]

Could it actually have both DSLR-like AF and an EVF?

Doesn't the reflex mirror required for phase detection AF force you to use an optical viewfinder?

They could bring back the pellicle mirror, but angled the other way.  Actually, such a system (reverse-angled fixed mirror and EVF only) would remove the geometric limitation on AF point spread, in theory allowing phase AF points to cover a much larger area of the field...

+1

Does anyone see this rumor as being a future EOS 2000D-RT or something?

[RC]

If it is much smaller than a Rebel then how will you hold it?

Hmm, even the current Rebels feel too small for me.  When I pick up an old film body it also feels dinky, but back then we didn't know different.