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    Canon: There’s a Possibility of a Retro Camera

    By Updated:121 Comments Canon EOS R 2 Mins Read

    DigitalCameraWorld talked to a senior Canon executive and asked them about the possibility of a digital retro or vintage-styled camera. The Senior executive stated there was a possibility of this happening and even mentioned that he personally would like the AE-1 to return in digital form.

    Manabu Kato the group executive of Canon's Imaging Business Operations said;

    With the current lineup that we have, such as the R5 Mark II, we keep innovating using the latest technology of the age. So with the current models, we keep applying new technologies and make them better and better from a technological point of view. 

    However, we are also seeing and hearing that there’s a certain amount of people who really love film and cameras with a more vintage look. Therefore there is a possiblilty that we will address those needs from the industry – but that will be separate from the current model and will be addressed in a different way. So yes, we are also seeing that as an interesting move.

    https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/will-we-get-a-retro-styled-canon-camera-there-is-a-possibility-says-exec

    I agree with his choice of the camera he'd like to see, as it would certainly be the one I'd like to see in the RF mount as well. I have long wanted a digital AE-1, so I hope both his wishes (and mine) come true. There will be kidneys sold if Canon does this. Mine included.

    My favorite is the AE-1 – for myself, that would be my choice. But whether as a company, as the Canon brand, we would revive that in digital format or not is a different topic. So I cannot make any clear comments on that, unfortunately, but my personal preference is the AE-1.

    You'd have to think a senior executive of the imaging department would have some pull in the decision-making, so here's hoping this becomes a reality.

    Source: DigitalCameraWorld

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    121 comments

    1. I film camera would be very welcome, love my 1V. A dream would be a rugged and weather sealed rf mount film camera. Have an evf with ovf simulation and a matching low-res dual pixel sensor. Like with slr the sensor flips away instead of a mirror when the image is taken, then the film is moved forward to the same focal plane. RF mount lenses and modern af would work. What a dream camera that would be.
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    2. The replacement of the AE-1: the AE-1 Programme is a slightly superior looking film camera with a very sweet detachable grip. If such a camera comes to market, I hope Canon revives the optional 2.5" wide red Canon strap and the sweet brown leather case which made the camera handle even better. The Super wide strap is an iconic statement...I still have a pair of them!
      2353460206_f03f97324c_o.jpg
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    7. Why not make it an RF mount and make the new VC L Primes available with optional Metal casings?
      Yes yes it will be an RF mount. I do not know what a metal casing is. I am hoping for small lenses that match the retro look. My use (speaking for myself) of this camera would be a family/walk-around camera.
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    8. The replacement of the AE-1: the AE-1 Programme is a slightly superior looking film camera with a very sweet detachable grip. If such a camera comes to market, I hope Canon revives the optional 2.5" wide red Canon strap and the sweet brown leather case which made the camera handle even better. The Super wide strap is an iconic statement...I still have a pair of them!
      View attachment 218891
      Personally speaking, a battery grip for such a camera is not something I will ever get.
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    10. Personally, I do not understand the appeal of retro camera designs from Nikon. Personally, I wonder how well these sell relative to their modern counterpart. The Nikon Zf retails for $2K at B&H and the Z6III retails for $2.5K. Does Nikon sell enough Zf to justify the production cost? I assume that R&D cost is minimal because I would assume the insides are identical to a non-retro model.
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    12. Ok, but why? Like the ergonomics are much better now, what\'s the appeal other than just looks? To me it doesn\'t make sense
      - Nostalgia
      - “Retro” is trendy now
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    13. The appeal of a retro-style camera body like the Zf that does not include the option of SOOC film simulation like the ones Fuji does is beyond me.
      And wouldn't a 70s or early 80s style RF camera body clash with the entire look?
      A fixed lens APS-C or FF QL17, possibly with analog picture styles, would seem like the most reasonable option in my very uneducated opinion.

      Either way, I get my nostalgia fix from an EOS 600 and OM-1 :p
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    14. It's already in development. I think it's a 2025 product, but that's all I can say publically at the moment.

      There's a good market for them or Nikon wouldn't keep doing it. It won't be for everyone, but different strokes.

      I'd personally be into a fixed lens Canonet revival. Though that doesn't seem like a Canon thing to do. They want to sell stuff to attach to cameras.
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    17. - Nostalgia
      - “Retro” is trendy now
      Nostalgia and "retro" are very, very big sellers in Japan (and to some degree in China) right now. The Nikon retro bodies are big sellers in those markets targeting general consumers and not really targeting professionals. That's also why they make them in multiple colors. They are considered fashion accessories.
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    18. It's already in development. I think it's a 2025 product, but that's all I can say publically at the moment.

      There's a good market for them or Nikon wouldn't keep doing it. It won't be for everyone, but different strokes.

      I'd personally be into a fixed lens Canonet revival. Though that doesn't seem like a Canon thing to do. They want to sell stuff to attach to cameras.
      I'd be tempted with a EOS 50 revival!
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