Canon’s Retro Camera is Coming as the EOS R8 Mark II

[Canon Rumors]

There has been a lot of talk for quite some time that Canon would be releasing a retro-themed EOS R camera. We pushed the idea that since the AE-1 is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, Canon could mark the occasion with a retro camera—which we dubbed the “RE-1” to keep it simple. However, it […]

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[SnowMiku]

This is the first time I've heard of an R8 mark II. Will it get a normal release or only have the retro look? I wonder what improvements it would have over the original? Will this release make it time to retire the RP and have the original R8 take its place?

But please, Canon: if you do release retro lenses, do not base one on the RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM. No one wants that lens, and I don’t think the camera itself would want to be mounted to it.

I agree, but it's probably just us on the forum that don't want this as a retro look kit lens. I'd much rather a 50mm f/1.8

 

[Canon Rumors]

This is the first time I've heard of an R8 mark II. Will it get a normal release or only have the retro look? I wonder what improvements it would have over the original? Will this release make it time to retire the RP and have the original R8 take its place?


I agree, but it's probably just us on the forum that don't want this as a retro look kit lens. I'd much rather a 50mm f/1.8

I'd be cool if they did the 16-28 and 28-70 2.8s. They won't touch an L. I have no idea if lenses are in the cards

 

[Gino_FOTO]

This is the first time I've heard of an R8 mark II. Will it get a normal release or only have the retro look? I wonder what improvements it would have over the original? Will this release make it time to retire the RP and have the original R8 take its place?

I don’t mind the retro style, for those who care about that sort of thing, but there’s a reason modern cameras look the way they do. Their design is much more ergonomic, which significantly improves ease of use. That said, the original R8 is already close to being the perfect camera. If it’s positioned as the replacement for the RP, it’ll be the best of both worlds. Speaking for myself, and likely a bunch of other people, I couldn't care less about having a retro looking device.

 

[Any Name]

It would be a excellent opportunity to (sort of) split the R8-line into a 'more video oriented' branch (the 'R8 V') and a 'more photograph oriented' branch (the 'R8 Mark II'). Being at the low-end of the full-frame range, it would be a logical point to test the waters for such an approach.

Disclaimer: video is just not my thing, so I'd rather not to pay for all this unused (by me at least) functionality.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

I'd be cool if they did the 16-28 and 28-70 2.8s. They won't touch an L. I have no idea if lenses are in the cards

A retro looking shell for these two lenses would be perfect.

 

[Uneternal]

Before I actually see Canon deviating from their classic form factors, I expect an R8 housing with just a silver top. Remember, they did that with a special edition of the RP, too.

Wouldn't be too bad, tho:

 

[m4ndr4ke]

I'd be cool if they did the 16-28 and 28-70 2.8s. They won't touch an L. I have no idea if lenses are in the cards

I'd say the RF 28, 45 and 50 1.8 would be great candidates.

 

[Canon Rumors]

I'd say the RF 28, 45 and 50 1.8 would be great candidates.

I guess "retro" is more about prime lenses, you're probably right. The 45 would be cool.

 

[Tomster81]

I would love to see a retro style version of the next R8 body as I love the R8 size for travel photography and love the look of Fuji X cameras. However I hope they keep the deep grip from the original R8 as I know old vintage style cameras don’t always have grips but I think thats essential to keep the great ergonomics of the R8. For me they could do a more squared off design with metal top plate and multiple dials but keep the grip. That would be perfect.

 

[Bob Howland]

I guess "retro" is more about prime lenses, you're probably right. The 45 would be cool.

When I owned an AE-1, the lens I used the most was a Vivitar Series 1 35-85 f/2.8. If Canon could make it f/2 and half the weight of that lens, I might buy it.

 

[stillviking]

Great news! It just need a shutter shield (problem of original R8)!

 

[Old Man FL/FD]

Also perhaps a lens adapter FD to RF with some feature not in the many currently out there.

 

[Canon Rumors]

Great news! It just need a shutter shield (problem of original R8)!

Canon won't put a full mechanical shutter into the 8 series.

Also perhaps a lens adapter FD to RF with some feature not in the many currently out there.

There are lots of those out there. I recommend URTH. I think I have all of their RF mount adapters. The C/Y, FD, M39 and Leica M adapters get a lot of use. I have started to buy some K mount lenses too.

 

[Brown]

I wonder what improvements it would have over the original? Will this release make it time to retire the RP and have the original R8 take its place?

Is the RP still in production?

 

[Uneternal]

Here's another crazy take: What if it's not even going to be a Mark II but just a silver color edition of the R8?

I'm having trouble imagining where this R8 Mark II is going to slot in without cannibalizing sales of the R6 Mark II. Would it be a(nother) cripple-hammered R6 Mark II with marginal updates? But if so, which updates? Or will they even put the R6 Mark III sensor without IBIS?

Keep in mind, the original R8 was a budget model with a MSRP of $1499, I don't think the Mark II would cost much more.

 

[neuroanatomist]

I like my R8 a lot. I’m interested to see what improvements the R8II brings. However, I have zero interest in a retro camera.

I do wonder if this means the R8II will be a retro camera, or if it means there will be a ‘retro version’ of the R8II sold alongside a version with current styling.

If ‘retro’ means a silver top version like they’ve done with other cameras, then I’d choose black (as I did with the M series). If it means numbered dials on top for exposure settings and a boxy, less-contoured grip then that’s a hard pass for me.

 

[Canon Rumors]

Here's another crazy take: What if it's not even going to be a Mark II but just a silver color edition of the R8?

I'm having trouble imagining where this R8 Mark II is going to slot in without cannibalizing sales of the R6 Mark II. Would it be a(nother) cripple-hammered R6 Mark II with marginal updates? But if so, which updates? Or will they even put the R6 Mark III sensor without IBIS?

Keep in mind, the original R8 was a budget model with a MSRP of $1499, I don't think the Mark II would cost much more.

The info came from an NDA'd person. I'll text the person, but they wouldn't have said "Mark II" if it wasn't. It wouldn't be called "retro" either with only a new paint job.

I could be wrong on that, or an assumption was made on their end. I think the R8 V may give a hint. If it's based off the current R8 in a lot of ways, then I'd be nervous the "retro" camera is only going to be a paint job and that would be a cash grab and dumb. Being told "Mark II" though....

The 8 series and 6 series are segmented by price, features, performance and target market. On the pricing side, $1000 is a pile of money for a lot of people.

In the end.... "If you don't cannibalize yourself, someone else will."


This is what I'm going on

 

[Old Man FL/FD]

There are lots of those out there. I recommend URTH. I think I have all of their RF mount adapters. The C/Y, FD, M39 and Leica M adapters get a lot of use. I have started to buy some K mount lenses too.

I was thinking of much more than a passive ‘extension tube’ FD to RF lens adapter.

It’s all predicated on the RF lens/body electrical contact interfaces and their capabilities, which I have no knowledge of. My thoughts might not be possible to implement.

The Canon FD lens mount has 4 mechanical interfaces when mounted to a compatible camera body:

• A cylindrical ‘boss’ pin which indicates the lens’ maximum aperture and compensates for the small difference between a f-stop and T-stop.
• A ‘tab’ lever which moves in a semi-circular ‘race’ which follows the lens’ aperture selection ring. This moves a small ‘circle’ in the camera viewfinder for ‘match needle’ light metering. (On old mechanical FD lens cameras.) This tab lever could be coupled to a mechanical encoder followed by an analog-to-digital converter to transmit the lens’ aperture setting back to the camera.
• A very small pin which pops up when the lens’ aperture ring is moved past its minimum (smallest) setting by depressing a button on the ring to either a green circle (old) or green ‘A’ (new) index. This was used on the ‘electronic’ FD mount cameras (AE-1 etc.) to allow shutter-priority Automatic Exposure. More on this in (4)
• A much larger tab lever which stops the lens down to its selected aperture when the camera shutter button is pressed. This allows both focusing and light metering with the lens wide open (how quaint!) An electromechanical solenoid could be incorporated into the FD/RF adapter to provide the same function. For shutter priority AE, the position of the stop down lever at shutter release needs to follow what the camera decides is the correct exposure aperture.

If all these features can be incorporated into a ‘smart’ FD to RF lens adapter, that would make a world of difference when using existing vintage Canon FD lenses.

Lens correction profiles for vintage Canon FD lenses – a whole different topic!!!

 

[Maximilian]

I like my R8 a lot. I’m interested to see what improvements the R8II brings. However, I have zero interest in a retro camera.

Same thought here!
The RP->R8 line is a great FF entry line from Canon.
I would call it hijack, if Canon would turn this line into a retro line.
Make an R8 Mk II as a real successor of the R8, use the guts of it as the internals for a retro RE-1.
And everybody could chose and everybody would be fine!