The Coming Canon ‘Retro’ Camera to Use Latest 32.5MP Sensor

[reefroamer]

Wrap an R100 in an AE-1 body and it likely would sell well at $699 or so to Gen Z and Millenial buyers more interested in the look than performance. And Retro cameras are about the look. It’s a fashion statement.

 

[blackcoffee17]

And yes finally a camera for photographers, not videographers. People that don't need autofocus gimics where the camera takes the photo for you (almost.)

Ah, this nonsense again. You don't have to use the "autofocus gimics" if you don't want to. You can just use single point, like 20 years ago or manual focus like 50 years ago.
But don't expect Canon to not add all the AI focus tech. They also won't design a completely new sensor and electronics for it, will likely be just an R8/R6 in a retro housing with a few features disabled and software changes.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

A stripped down R3iii? That sounds a lot like an R8ii. I wonder if Canon will co-develope the R8ii and AE-1 retro together.

 

[David_B]

Ah, this nonsense again. You don't have to use the "autofocus gimics" if you don't want to. You can just use single point, like 20 years ago or manual focus like 50 years ago.
But don't expect Canon to not add all the AI focus tech. They also won't design a completely new sensor and electronics for it, will likely be just an R8/R6 in a retro housing with a few features disabled and software changes.

The AI focus tech has a measurable impact on price, with an extra chip being used. But to take your point, when the R6/R8 were released, nobody complained about not being able to take photos, so maybe using the 32MP plus a majority of bits from those two is a good start!

With AI, putting smarts in the camera to pick the right target with AI for AF is Canon's goal, so that all the photographer needs to do is frame the shot and push the button.

 

[David_B]

I think your demands just lost Canon all potential customers.

Why is that? Canon sells more single memory card cameras than it does with two and it sells relatively few large battery pack cameras.

I guess two retro lenses as CR mentioned make sense.

Why is everyone saying 45mm is a retro lens? Was it released with the AE-1?

 

[John Wilde]

I thought the retro camera would be APS-C, because "fashion cameras" sell the best when they are affordable. Wrong again.

 

[Skux]

I maintain that retro cameras do not need the best features, it saves on cost and the audience doesn't need high end specs anyway.

They could stick an R8 in an A-1 shaped body (with the shape of the grip attachment please), rerelease a few lenses to match the style, and it would fly off the shelves.

 

[blackcoffee17]

The AI focus tech has a measurable impact on price, with an extra chip being used.

The R&D is already done, so removing it from a camera won't reduce costs. There is no extra chip used at all, except on the R5/R1. The rest of the cameras are just using normal Digic X. Actually designing and creating a new chip for a camera selling in limited numbers would increase cost, not reduce it.

 

[m4ndr4ke]

The AI focus tech has a measurable impact on price, with an extra chip being used.

What is deep learning? Photography terms explained

What is deep learning and how does Canon use it to improve focusing performance in its EOS cameras?

www.eos-magazine.com

No, it doesn’t.
All Digic X powered cameras have deep learning algorithms loaded into them.
Only two cameras actually have an extra processing unit dedicated to AI, the R5 Mark II and the R1.

With AI, putting smarts in the camera to pick the right target with AI for AF is Canon's goal, so that all the photographer needs to do is frame the shot and push the button.

And how exactly is that a problem..?
You can still perform autofocus without subject recognition, using Spot AF and One Shot AF. Heck, you can even manual focus without focus assist, if you want, as well as third party RF lenses without electronic contacts.
I would expect nothing less than R8 to R6 performance level for $2000. What else would we be paying for, the sensor of a R6 Mark III with R100 features level? That’s worth $800 to $1000 at best.

Why is everyone saying 45mm is a retro lens? Was it released with the AE-1?

Because it performs like a lens from the 1990’s to early 2000’s.

 

[ctk]

Works for me. I had an EOS R I had a very love/hate relationship with. I feel like this will replace the things I hated about that with things I love, like modern performance and retro styling like my a7CII. I will definitely check it out when it's released. I've been kind of looking for a reason to come back to Canon.

 

[HeavyPiper]

I'm looking forward to see the RE-1 if and when it arises. I'm looking for travel body from Canon. Yes the R8 meets my criteria.

 

[Uneternal]

Great news, if this really turns out to be lower than $2000, it's going to be an automatic buy from me. Currently, I'm a bit skeptical. This price would mean it gets a huge cripple hammer. I suspect 1 card slot and a very basic video mode. Or maybe a fixed screen (which would be horrible).

I hope Canon doesn't forget that one of Fuji's pillars of success is their film simulations. A Canon retro camera should also offer something similar, a step up from the lame picture styles, including film noise and maybe even halation. If this camera had different Kodak simulations (Kodak Gold, Kodak Portra, etc.), I'd have a total nerdgasm. Canon, if you read this, make it happen!

 

[SnowMiku]

I bet when this comes out we will get the usual "This has sold out due to unexpected demand"

 

[aisen]

I was always envious of the Nikon Zf, even though it's not perfectly "analog."

An AE-1 as R replaces three cameras for me. Finally, a replacement for my PEN F, R6 Mark II and Sony A7R II.

The PEN F is retro and I like to take it on vacation (and it's getting a bit old), the R6 Mark II was previously my second camera alongside the R5 Mark II and the A7R II holds my old Nikon F lenses from the 60's.

Let's hope there's some truth to the rumor.

 

[Maximilian]

It's a RETRO camera ...

Don't mix up "retro" with "retro design" camera.
If you want a real retro camera, you can get am original AE-1 in mint conditions for less than $/€150

 

[don't_know_shxx]

Great news, if this really turns out to be lower than $2000, it's going to be an automatic buy from me. Currently, I'm a bit skeptical. This price would mean it gets a huge cripple hammer. I suspect 1 card slot and a very basic video mode. Or maybe a fixed screen (which would be horrible).

I hope Canon doesn't forget that one of Fuji's pillars of success is their film simulations. A Canon retro camera should also offer something similar, a step up from the lame picture styles, including film noise and maybe even halation. If this camera had different Kodak simulations (Kodak Gold, Kodak Portra, etc.), I'd have a total nerdgasm. Canon, if you read this, make it happen!

different Kodak simulations (Kodak Gold, Kodak Portra, etc.),

allready are existing, they can be loaded to every Canon "R" camera.. => https://www.camera-profiles.com/kodak-film-simulation-picture-styles

 

[David_B]

Don't mix up "retro" with "retro design" camera.
If you want a real retro camera, you can get am original AE-1 in mint conditions for less than $/€150

Well the rumor talks about excluding modern features, so obviously Canon are thinking "retro" will be more than just look-and-feel

 

[Walrus]

Well the rumor talks about excluding modern features, so obviously Canon are thinking "retro" will be more than just look-and-feel

Without modern features nobody is going to buy it; Canon is not that stupid.

There will be limitation, like probably no 6k/7k (assumed they really would use the R6III sensor), will be likely limited to 4k30 likely with heavy crop, maybe just mic input but no headphones output, no full size hdmi, single card that's for sure, I guess LP-E17 battery, AF will be full potential in calculations but with some config limitations that will make it less flexible then the std bodies, screen might be fixed (that's tough and risky call, but using a low res fix screen may save them some money to make the whole thing cheaper to manufacture - but that doesn't mean cheaper to buy... -), EVF will be on the low pixel count.

Basically I expects something like R8 on hardware level, with retro dress and some crippling in the software, but not crippled to a point of being less able then a RP, which is btw a pretty able camera.

They'll probably re-dress the 45 STM because it's perfect as a retro lens and it's cheap for what it is, maybe the 24 STM, possibly the 85 F2, I don't see many other options, they will give us at best a 24-45-85 STM retro "classic" triad, and they'll be done with it.

 

[neuroanatomist]

They'll probably re-dress the 45 STM because it's perfect as a retro lens and it's cheap for what it is, maybe the 24 STM, possibly the 85 F2, I don't see many other options, they will give us at best a 24-45-85 STM retro "classic" triad, and they'll be done with it.

Even the underlying code for an aperture ring is available, thanks to the Z and VCM lenses.

 

[m4ndr4ke]

They'll probably re-dress the 45 STM because it's perfect as a retro lens and it's cheap for what it is, maybe the 24 STM, possibly the 85 F2, I don't see many other options,

My guesses are the 28 2.8 and the 45 or 50 1.8. Non-IS, non-macro, classic focal lengths budget lenses.