We have been told that Canon has “accelerated” development of the “pro” level EOS R camera, and we're not talking about the high-resolution model that we expect to see in late 2019 or early 2020.

This new camera will be along the lines of a mirrorless version of the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II (or III).

The source also mentioned that it is possible this camera could be announced alongside the EOS-1D X Mark III in the first or second quarter of 2020. Though the date of the announcement is a long way from being decided.

Announcing these two cameras together would be a unique move for Canon, and while I think it's possible, I suspect we'll see a development announcement for the EOS-1R X (as I feel like calling it) well before the actual camera ships.

An EOS R professional body with some new RF super-telephoto lenses at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics next July could be a great time for the launch of pro-level EOS R and RF mount gear.

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258 comments

  1. So, is that effectively also confirmation that we will be seeing a 1DX Mark III then? (I didn't have too much doubt, but many seem to have done).

    The R-equivalent could be very interesting - particularly how they get it to mimic the qualities of the existing 1DX line.
  2. So, is that effectively also confirmation that we will be seeing a 1DX Mark III then? (I didn't have too much doubt, but many seem to have done).

    The R-equivalent could be very interesting - particularly how they get it to mimic the qualities of the existing 1DX line.

    We'll absolutely get an EOS-1D X Mark III. Professionals that live by the EOS-1D series of cameras will be the last to move to mirrorless in my opinion.
  3. A fast professional R body will require professional R lenses (especially telephoto). 70-200mm f2.8 will be there, what about others? I'll not but a fast and strong EOS R if I have to use adapters.
    Or maybe Canon has a plan to release 1-2 L more telephoto lenses?
    We probably will have 24-70 and 15-35 f2.8L so I don't see huge problems there.
  4. A fast professional R body will require professional R lenses (especially telephoto). 70-200mm f2.8 will be there, what about others?...

    Not really. Most professionals will be using this alongside their DSLRs. The adapters work fine and unless and until you are ready to dump all DSLRs (which is a long ways away for most pros) it's likely that R lens sales will be limited to a few key lenses.
  5. Will it have DPAF though? I suspect data generated by dpaf might be the reason why so far cameras are slow at continuous af.

    A 1-DX equivalent mirrorless will not underperform in either autofocus speed or accuracy. If DPAF data is the issue, then Canon will either 1) have innovated beyond DPAF, circumventing the problem or 2) will have increased processor throughput to handle the data.
  6. Not really. Most professionals will be using this alongside their DSLRs. The adapters work fine and unless and until you are ready to dump all DSLRs (which is a long ways away for most pros) it's likely that R lens sales will be limited to a few key lenses.
    If I buy a tough body like 1DX, I want it to work under every condition. An adapter is a liability. You won't understand this if you don't push your kit to its limits.
  7. If I buy a tough body like 1DX, I want it to work under every condition. An adapter is a liability. You won't understand this if you don't push your kit to its limits.
    I’m quite happy to use unsealed lenses and extension tubes on my 1DX MkII’s without concern. The 12mm tube gives the superteles much closer focusing and I use the 50 f1.4 a lot and the 35 f2 almost constantly on occasions, nobody ever said I was easy on my gear, I expect it to work reliably whenever and wherever I want it to.
  8. A fast professional R body will require professional R lenses (especially telephoto). 70-200mm f2.8 will be there, what about others? I'll not but a fast and strong EOS R if I have to use adapters.
    Or maybe Canon has a plan to release 1-2 L more telephoto lenses?
    We probably will have 24-70 and 15-35 f2.8L so I don't see huge problems there.

    The holy trinity lenses will be there in time for this body. You'll also have an 85 and 50 1.2 and a 35 1.8, all RF mount. Short of supertelephotos/teleconverters that covers every major category of lens reasonably well from 15 - 200mm and wide/medium/short tele fixed, though a 24 1.4 (or perhaps 1.2?) is a bit of a gap for some people.
  9. Also in terms of the adapter being a liability, I don't see it that way IF you have it semi-permanently attached to a single EF lens. Right now that's essentially how I'm using it, as I have an EF 16 - 35 f/4 on most of the time when walking around, with the RF 24 - 105 and 50's in the bag as well - so the adapter stays with the lens, not the body. Usually if I have the 70 - 200 on the camera that's all I'm shooting (along with swapping out teleconverters), and I have the Sigma 28mm f/1.4 and Canon 85mm f/1.4 IS but I would not be swapping those in the elements, only indoors/in-studio (sometimes I walk around with one or the other but am not swapping). If I wanted to do otherwise I could purchase a 2nd adapter.
  10. I’m quite happy to use unsealed lenses and extension tubes on my 1DX MkII’s without concern. The 12mm tube gives the superteles much closer focusing and I use the 50 f1.4 a lot and the 35 f2 almost constantly on occasions, nobody ever said I was easy on my gear, I expect it to work reliably whenever and wherever I want it to.
    You use tubes only when you need to and 1D series are mostly used for action. If you wnat to use tubes, you can very well go with EOS R which has more MP anyway.
    RF mount needs L telephoto lenses (1 or 2) before EOS RX (or what ever it'll be called).
  11. The holy trinity lenses will be there in time for this body. You'll also have an 85 and 50 1.2 and a 35 1.8, all RF mount. Short of supertelephotos/teleconverters that covers every major category of lens reasonably well from 15 - 200mm and wide/medium/short tele fixed, though a 24 1.4 (or perhaps 1.2?) is a bit of a gap for some people.
    I agree with lenses below 200mm (and I said the same thing in my original post). I'm talking about 300mm+ .
  12. Also in terms of the adapter being a liability, I don't see it that way IF you have it semi-permanently attached to a single EF lens. Right now that's essentially how I'm using it, as I have an EF 16 - 35 f/4 on most of the time when walking around, with the RF 24 - 105 and 50's in the bag as well - so the adapter stays with the lens, not the body. Usually if I have the 70 - 200 on the camera that's all I'm shooting (along with swapping out teleconverters), and I have the Sigma 28mm f/1.4 and Canon 85mm f/1.4 IS but I would not be swapping those in the elements, only indoors/in-studio (sometimes I walk around with one or the other but am not swapping). If I wanted to do otherwise I could purchase a 2nd adapter.
    Now go and use that same setup in mud, in desert, put your lenses with your camera in your bag and take them out of the bag etc.. With adapter, you have 1 more place for dirt/dust etc.. to come in and 2 more connections for failure. Professional 1Dx users want reliability. I'm not saying you CANNOT use adapter, I say it is a liability for 1Dx-user profile.
  13. Now go and use that same setup in mud, in desert, put your lenses with your camera in your bag and take them out of the bag etc.. With adapter, you have 1 more place for dirt/dust etc.. to come in and 2 more connections for failure. Professional 1Dx users want reliability. I'm not saying you CANNOT use adapter, I say it is a liability for 1Dx-user profile.
    At 200 each, it's also easy to leave it permanently attached for an R for a lot of professionals. Yes it's a potential point of failure but if you have 2-3 different lenses with the adapter mounted you can quickly swap a flaky adapter to another one. I really think it's pretty much a non issue in action. You are much more likely to have an issue within a lens than just with the adapter.
  14. At 200 each, it's also easy to leave it permanently attached for an R for a lot of professionals. Yes it's a potential point of failure but if you have 2-3 different lenses with the adapter mounted you can quickly swap a flaky adapter to another one. I really think it's pretty much a non issue in action. You are much more likely to have an issue within a lens than just with the adapter.
    Yeah, and it's not as though there are any mechanical couplings to fail, either.

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