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

[David - Sydney]

This again.. Tell me how removing some video features would make the camera cheaper. The sensor still need to have fast readout to support 30FPS (the current R8), dual pixel AF, the EVF, etc. If they separate the R8 line into 2, that just means extra development and R&D cost and sales split between 2 models = higher cost per model. Removing some video codecs won't make the camera cheaper. Making an R8V only makes sense because of different ergonomics and the EVF can be dropped.

There is the example of R5 and R5c where it is clear that additional video features (cinema menus, 8k60 etc) and cooling for longer recording times is specific to video at an extra cost. Even if Canon removed IBIS in the R5c. If Canon released the R5 and R5c at the same time then there would have been no reason for reviewers to find fault.

It is possible that less cooling is required if the higher end video features are not enabled so there could be a cost reduction there.
Example is the additional heatsink etc for cLog on the 5Div which was then embedded with a USD100 price increase if I recall correctly.

The Magic Lantern project showed what the 5Diii video (and stills features) was capable of if the engineers allowed it but there were caveats with over heating being one of those issues.

These are niche use cases as I agree in general that EVFs and video features ago hand-in-hand and any cost differences for codecs and firmware development/maintenance etc would be small at best.

 

[David - Sydney]

Is the RP still in production?

There is certainly still stock in the pipeline and Canon hasn't officially retired it yet.

I would like to think that Canon would continue to sell it as long as it is still profitable.
It hits a unique price point for new full frame bodies and could easily be a stepping stone to higher end bodies once a buyer gets some RF lenses.

Sony still sells the A7iii for ~USD1700 so why not keep 3 generations of Canon bodies.

I still have mine as a backup. Mostly for workshops when I would be using manual focus or as a second body doing timelapse/star trails.

 

[Chig]

I think just another retro camera with crap ergonomics is daft but perhaps Canon will make one with the waist level viewfinder like that prototype but with a giant EVF screen instead of the silly mirror system and R8 internals then it would be cool looking and actually a useful if niche camera ?

 

[Maximilian]

Maybe strange...for many.
But for me, the R8 is the least tempting camera in Canon's FF range.
No IBIS, no dual SD/CF, very low definition EVF and a size requiring a body prosthesis if you have normal sized hands (like the EOS R and RP).
Sure, the sensor is excellent, the size appeals to many (me excluded), the price is very reasonable. As a backup, in case (very improbable!) my EOS R fails, ok!

I can understand you!
And I wouldn't buy it as main body, too.
But you and I have enough money to spend on a R6 or R5 series camera.
Others don't. They can get an "affordable" R8 as a FF entry body.
And - without evident - I believe that most of those users are not into retro or vintage but want modern ergos.

I was thinking about getting an R8 as second and travel body, like @neuroanatomist did.
But I didn't buy it, because the overall travel package was smaller and therefore better for me with an R50 and the Sigma lenses available yet.
If Canon had put the R8 technology in an R50 body, I definitely would have bought it.

 

[Mistral75]

DS126947 could be an entry-level camera: its Wi-Fi module is limited to 64-QAM (quadrature modulation), which corresponds to IEEE 802.11n, also known as Wi-Fi 4.

By contrast:

• ID0174 (EOS C80), DS126904 (PowerShot V1), DS126941 (EOS R50 V), ID0184 (EOS C50), DS126916 (EOS R6 Mark III) and DS126936 have a 256-QAM module, which corresponds to IEEE 802.11ac, also known as Wi-Fi 5.
• DS126922 (EOS R5 Mark II) and DS126928 (EOS R1) have a 1024-QAM module, which corresponds to IEEE 802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6.