Canon Selling Well in Japan, and Three New EOS R Cameras Confirmed

[Richard CR]

BCN released its data for November, and there are a few other interesting pieces of information that have come out lately, so I'm going to lump it all into my musings, so lets get into things and oh, we have to talk about the R3 Mark II, R7 Mark II, R10 Mark II along the way. What is BCN and Why? Just for those completely unfamiliar with BCN, BCN tracks sales receipts from over half of all Japanese retail stores (online storefronts and physical stores). Of any market, BCN gives us the most accurate look at what is being sold […]

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[archie]

For an undefined reason, I think of the R3 as an experimental camera, a slot to incorporate new ideas that they want to try out in the buying public but not in huge quantities.

 

[Maximilian]

For an undefined reason, I think of the R3 as an experimental camera, a slot to incorporate new ideas that they want to try out in the buying public but not in huge quantities.

I like that idea. But I'm not really convinced of that. Only the future will tell. if and how an R3 line will continue.

 

[Maximilian]

... I would rather see the EOS R100 driven down to sub $500 and a decent entry mirrorless model come in at the R100’s introductory price. I also think this would drive a lot more unit sales, and thus a lot more lens sales to Canon. But I am not Canon’s CEO

Richard, really?
Do you think this perfectly developed and priced R100 should get a discount price?
Wouldn't it be better to let it continue as it is and we'll praise its magnificence and value for all eternity?

Surprisingly, on Amazon USA, the EOS R100 is the top-selling mirrorless camera; this hurts my soul.

The U.S. people know best about the inner values of anything

 

[Planterz]

With all the talk (hopefully true) of the R7 II becoming more "premium", I could see the R10 II taking the old R7's spot, as long as the specs are decent enough and it has IBIS. Otherwise there'd be an odd gap for a camera to compete with the a6700 and whatever Fuji body (X-T5?) is in the same class.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Otherwise there'd be an odd gap for a camera to compete with the a6700 and whatever Fuji body (X-T5?) is in the same class.

I really do wonder how much any of that matters. I remain unconvinced there is real 'competition' between brands at anything other than the entry level. Someone with a smartphone who wants to get 'a real camera' will be looking at different systems and comparing the ones they can afford. Mostly, they'll be looking to not spend more than they spent on their smartphone (the average price of a MILC shipped in 2025 is $714), which means they'll be comparing at the entry level. Once they make a choice, if they later decide to upgrade they will most likely be looking at the brand they already have so they can use the same lenses, etc.

I think the transition from DSLR to MILC is a somewhat different situation, where users with more gear were looking at switching not just bodies but lenses, too, and that led to more system switching (mainly from Nikon to Sony, based on the market data). That transition is still ongoing, meaning some higher-end MILC sales are to people replacing a DSLR.

Those of us engaged more on the gear side (e.g., the self-selected group of people who choose to follow rumors of upcoming cameras and lenses) and those who produce content for them (DPR, etc.) love to compare across brands. That drives a lot of discussion and more importantly ad views and clicks (i.e., revenue) but at the end of the day only a relatively small number of users with anything other than a body and a kit lens actually switch from one system to another.

I believe that the primary target market for cameras above the entry level are in-brand buyers, so Canon (in particular, as the dominant market leader) is looking to attract owners of older Canon cameras or 'lower' Canon cameras. For example, the R6III is spec'd to attract owners of 5- or 6-series DSLRs, owners of an R6 that's now 'getting old' and owners of an R7/R10 who are looking to go to FF. The situation is a bit different for Sony and Nikon, because they don't have something like 70% of the installed base using their brand so they have to try and poach Canon users with specs, price, or both.

 

[Del Paso]

So much undeserved hate for a wonderful camera (you know which one I mean).
I'm tempted to quit and join the SonyLoversForum if this doesn't stop soon!
By the way, I too could imagine an R3 II with the 45MP sensor and some updated features.

 

[mimbu]

According to BCN, Canon took quite a few top spots in the November rankings, and the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, debuting at position 11. That is a little surprising because BCN tracks actual store sales receipts, and not the pre-orders, so the EOS R6 Mark III wasn’t available for very long in November, as it didn’t start shipping until the last week of November. Even with that, it’s the highest-selling full-frame camera in Japan for the month of November.

See full article...

It's not all that surprising. There is always a huge surge in sales in Japan when a new camera like the R6 III is released. The Z6 III was the top selling full frame camera the month it was released. Even much more expensive cameras like the R5 II often hit high in the list in the month of release. Next it will be the A7V.

But, Japanese (and most of the rest of Asia) love small cameras and almost every month that doesn't have a new FF release, the top selling FF camera in Japan is the A7C II with a kit lens. Some months the silver one, some months the black one. The #2 FF camera will be whichever A7C II color wasn't #1.

 

[mimbu]

Once they make a choice, if they later decide to upgrade they will most likely be looking at the brand they already have so they can use the same lenses, etc.

In some cases yes. In other cases they have an APS-C camera and one or two APS-C lenses. None of that is transferable to the most likely upgrade path (full frame) for someone who is getting more serious about photography. They might choose to stay within the same brand for ergonomic reasons, or reasons of general familiarity, but they're going to have to replace their glass. With that in mind, I think many people moving from APS-C to FF do consider options across brands, the same as they did when they bought initially.

 

[blackcoffee17]

The R100 would have been the perfect entry/cheap camera if they only added a $5 touchscreen. So you don't have to click-click-click if want to change focus point, like 20 years ago on a Rebel.

 

[David - Sydney]

‘A lot of people’ who are middle class ie having at least some disposable income would be approaching ~800m just for IN/CH/ID. Global projections are for 4b people well before 2030.
With >7b phone subscriptions currently, the market for upgraders is there

A big market for all OEMs to address if they can get the pricing and feature set right and still be profitable.

 

[snapshot]

I really do wonder how much any of that matters. I remain unconvinced there is real 'competition' between brands at anything other than the entry level. Someone with a smartphone who wants to get 'a real camera' will be looking at different systems and comparing the ones they can afford. Mostly, they'll be looking to not spend more than they spent on their smartphone (the average price of a MILC shipped in 2025 is $714), which means they'll be comparing at the entry level. Once they make a choice, if they later decide to upgrade they will most likely be looking at the brand they already have so they can use the same lenses, etc.

...

I believe that the primary target market for cameras above the entry level are in-brand buyers, so Canon (in particular, as the dominant market leader) is looking to attract owners of older Canon cameras or 'lower' Canon cameras. For example, the R6III is spec'd to attract owners of 5- or 6-series DSLRs, owners of an R6 that's now 'getting old' and owners of an R7/R10 who are looking to go to FF. The situation is a bit different for Sony and Nikon, because they don't have something like 70% of the installed base using their brand so they have to try and poach Canon users with specs, price, or both.

you may be right. there are next to no photography advertisements shown on mass media. i really dont remember any other than Andre Agassi's Rebel comercials. The only photography ads i see are cell phone photography/video ads. I suppose photo equipment purchases are probably driven by word of mouth and directed research. i know that folks often ask me what setup i am using and/or what setup i might recommend. usually i find out they already have a camera in the closet they dont use much because they get "snapshots" not dynamic photos. some of that is the kit lenses they get, but the truth is the real problem is training, experimentation, and practice. Buy a camera and read its manual is not it. Cell phone ads are selling: "use our phone get dynamic video or photos" and most of what they are offering is a big screen and software. we talk a lot about better capture, but cameras with much better software (maybe a bigger screen) that helps folks with suggestions for better lighting, better posses, better composition, better post processing would sell much more low-end equipment.

 

[John Wilde]

It's inevitable that Canon will release a photocentric PowerShot with their 1.4" sensor. You don't make a new sensor and a new sensor size for just one camera model.

 

[Del Paso]

It's not all that surprising. There is always a huge surge in sales in Japan when a new camera like the R6 III is released. The Z6 III was the top selling full frame camera the month it was released. Even much more expensive cameras like the R5 II often hit high in the list in the month of release. Next it will be the A7V.

But, Japanese (and most of the rest of Asia) love small cameras and almost every month that doesn't have a new FF release, the top selling FF camera in Japan is the A7C II with a kit lens. Some months the silver one, some months the black one. The #2 FF camera will be whichever A7C II color wasn't #1.

I didn't know the Japanese had such a bad taste...

 

[Traveler]

I still hope Canon will break their rules that better camera needs to be bigger and only top cameras have certain features. I think that the original EOS R had the perfect body size and design, top LCD, bigger display than the R6. They could make a camera that is comfortable to hold, not too heavy or big, has nice bright LCD with thinner bezels, high-res EVF, IBIS, enough controls (both rear wheel and arrows like the 90D or Sony's) and doesn't have limited menu options and features. It's fine if it shoots less fps or has weaker video specs due to the smaller body (less efficient cooling).
I think there are quite some people who would spend the money on the R5 but it is too heavy for them. And people who just want something nice but not necessarily big and heavy. Enthusiasts, travellers, young people,...

I know, I'm naive.

 

[Del Paso]

I still hope Canon will break their rules that better camera needs to be bigger and only top cameras have certain features. I think that the original EOS R had the perfect body size and design, top LCD, bigger display than the R6. They could make a camera that is comfortable to hold, not too heavy or big, has nice bright LCD with thinner bezels, high-res EVF, IBIS, enough controls (both rear wheel and arrows like the 90D or Sony's) and doesn't have limited menu options and features. It's fine if it shoots less fps or has weaker video specs due to the smaller body (less efficient cooling).
I think there are quite some people who would spend the money on the R5 but it is too heavy for them. And people who just want something nice but not necessarily big and heavy. Enthusiasts, travellers, young people,...

I know, I'm naive.

No, you are not naive.
You simply forget that some of us have larger hands, and simply cannot get along with smaller cameras, while the opposite is not true.
Canon should not start developing expensive cameras for a fraction of their customers. I do still own an EOS R, but it represents the absolute limit of what I can use. The 5 D IV was perfect for me while the R5 II is ok. Size matters if you dislike cramped controls. Yet, if my carrying system allowed it, I surely would get an R 3 or R 1
Thanks God, Canon still pay lots of attention to ergonomics.

 

[EricN]

No, you are not naive.
You simply forget that some of us have larger hands, and simply cannot get along with smaller cameras, while the opposite is not true.
Canon should not start developing expensive cameras for a fraction of their customers. I do still own an EOS R, but it represents the absolute limit of what I can use. The 5 D IV was perfect for me while the R5 II is ok. Size matters if you dislike cramped controls. Yet, if my carrying system allowed it, I surely would get an R 3 or R 1
Thanks God, Canon still pay lots of attention to ergonomics.

I think it'll never happen but it would be nice if cameras could be customized by order similar to how some car manufacturers allow.

Get yourself a 45mp sensor, integrated grip and a non-touch screen!

 

[mimbu]

I didn't know the Japanese had such a bad taste...

Much of Asia prefers smaller cameras which is why APS-C and even M43 sell so well here. Smaller FF bodies make sense considering the size of the market, and I think we will see Canon and Nikon respond to that in the coming years.

 

[mimbu]

I still hope Canon will break their rules that better camera needs to be bigger and only top cameras have certain features. I think that the original EOS R had the perfect body size and design, top LCD, bigger display than the R6. They could make a camera that is comfortable to hold, not too heavy or big, has nice bright LCD with thinner bezels, high-res EVF, IBIS, enough controls (both rear wheel and arrows like the 90D or Sony's) and doesn't have limited menu options and features. It's fine if it shoots less fps or has weaker video specs due to the smaller body (less efficient cooling).
I think there are quite some people who would spend the money on the R5 but it is too heavy for them. And people who just want something nice but not necessarily big and heavy. Enthusiasts, travellers, young people,...

I know, I'm naive.

Due to the growth in the Asian market you are likely to see Canon and Nikon follow Sony into making smaller FF bodies going forward. Legacy markets in Europe & the US have little growth these days (or are shrinking), so makers will cater more to where new customers are.

 

[Richard CR]

Due to the growth in the Asian market you are likely to see Canon and Nikon follow Sony into making smaller FF bodies going forward. Legacy markets in Europe & the US have little growth these days (or are shrinking), so makers will cater more to where new customers are.

I'm not so sure Canon will make smaller than necessary ie: Sony for them all. Even Sony's A1 / A9 are small. In other words, I want canon to make smaller cameras, but not at the expense of more comfortable ergonomic cameras.

Canon seems to be doing quite well over here in Asia from what I could see just walking around. For instance, in Vietnam, I see an overwhelming amount of Canon mirrorless versus any other brands (as an anecdotal comparison).