40mm on a 2x crop would be 80mm... I'm not expecting the mirrorless to be anything more than APS-C, it is just as likely to be the same size as a 4/3rds sensor, EF-M ? (micro) in a way of beating Nikon on sensor size (Nikon 1), but not suffering a problem of having to build masses of new lenses, as it would be EF or EF-S comparable.
So, could we also expect a cheap 12mm and 24mm pancake too ?, giving 24mm and 48mm focal lengths ?
If you look at Canon competitors and try to find the best strategy to make money :
- Nikon 1 : 2.7 crop factor, speed but forget shallow DOF, Canon cannot compete...
- Olympus / Panasonic : micro 4/3 : 2 crop factor, balance between size, shallow DOF, and speed, canon cannot compete with Olympus E-M5
- Sony NEX : 1.6 crop factor : shallow DOF but few lenses, where Canon has more than 60 lenses...
Possible strategy :
make something in between the G1X and the 600D, with size comparable to a Pentax K-01, with EF compatible mount. Add the missing lens to make it really portable : a pancake lens 40mm 2.8, exactly like Pentax. Read the pentax K-01 review on dpreview :
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/pentaxk01It makes sense. Canon can produce an improved K-01 based on their existing bodies and lenses. With not so much R&D and with good potential sales.
They can compete with Fujifilm X-pro 1 on the price, be similar to Pentax K-01 with improved handling, preserve the DSLR market, offer shallower DOF than 4/3 and Nikon1.
The 40mm pancake is also good on FF (natural angle), you can take your 5D everywhere.
The 40 mm is also good on your old and light Rebel... (wider and smaller than the 50 1.
