Over the past few months, we have been receiving small bits of information about the upcoming Canon EOS R1. The next flagship camera from Canon. We don't yet have a true replacement for the EOS-1D X Mark III, which is generally regarded as the best DSLR ever made. So it stands to reason that Canon would take the time to ensure that they release a mirrorless body that exceeds anything else out there.
Some of the information that we have received about the EOS R1 is contradictory, which is pretty normal in product development. Sometimes information comes from prototyping, sometimes it's from word of mouth and sometimes, unfortunately, it's just made up.
What we have been told about the Canon EOS R1
- Larger body than the Canon EOS R3
- Much larger OLED panel on the back of the camera. One source said “nothing currently out there has a screen as big as the EOS R1 will have”. The standard size for the larger cameras seems to be about 3.2″, could we get a 4″ screen?
- Resolution will be “around 45mp”, which Canon feels is the sweet spot for resolution. In a professional setting such as sporting events, you have to consider the throughput required to get images from the camera to the editor and then to the web/print. While some have claimed an 80mp sensor, we think you'll see such a sensor in an EOS R5 body.
- The EVF will be the “highest resolution” when it launches, it will reportedly be a Canon made EVF. Expect “extremely high refresh rate options” as well as “no blackout”.
- Global shutter? Some say yes, others say no. For the moment, we have no idea. We do think a global shutter is due, especially with electronic shutters and what could be possible if they get rid of the rolling shutter issues that the EOS R3 and EOS R5 are prone to in certain situations.
- The battery will be a variation of the LP-E19
- The EOS R1 will get dual CFe slots. One source said it's likely that at least one of the slots is Type C, We're not sure about this idea. Type C cards are larger than Type B, and we think at this point, people want matching slots and not a mix. Canon shooters have been adding type B cards to their bags for quite some time and likely don't want to start over unless there is a game changing reason for it. If there's one common complaint we hear about the EOS R3, it's the SD card slot in favour of a second CFe Type B slot. Either way, there won't be an SD card slot.
- Expect “a more EOS-1D style ergonomic design”. This is pretty ambiguous, but the larger body could allow this. We don't think size matters as much as weight does, and Canon seems to spend a lot of time reducing the weight of cameras and lenses. No small feat for sure.
- The top down display will be colour instead of monochrome if you so desire. It will be “fully customizable in what information it shows and in its appearance.”. I think we have all been waiting for an advancement in the top down display and how it operates.
- An “all-new autofocus system”. Could this mean QPAF? We think it's very possible, there have been many patents about QPAF, and it is a logical next step.
- Video features? We have no idea, and most sources don't have this sort of information until closer to an actual announcement. One source did say that the video features/firmware would be developed by the Cinema EOS team.
- The announcement will be a “drawn-out affair”, which we think means a development announcement first and then getting the camera in pros hands to do the final tweaks to firmware before an official announcement. The Paris Olympic games begin in July of next year, so we expect the camera will be on the market by then and that the event won't just be used for beta testing the final product.
Sony is probably gearing up an alpha a1 II in the same sort of timeline. Which company blinks first and announces something? We think the EOS R1 is more important for Canon than the a1 II is for Sony, and if the EOS R1 is not the king of the hill for at least a couple of years, it will hurt the brand.
We have some more information in the spreadsheet, but we're waiting for more confirmations, as some of the stuff suggested just seems insane to us. Wish lists do get mixed in with actual product information.
I would not be surprised it will MSRP at $9,999 due to inflation and worse economies of scale.
If you have a paid project today or a once in a lifetime unpaid shooting event that would benefit from a R3 then buy one today.
Not my league, in price and need of features.
But bring it on, Canon, so the pink unicorn is off the table ;)
A 45 MP with a global shutter would be quite an accomplishment!
At 45 MP (buy that as a threshold, allows 8K video), assuming 60 MB files, we exceed 2 GB/sec at 33 fps. So, Type C could simply mean the R1 has a setting for 40 fps of higher.
BTW, bit surprised to not hear about internal memory. I was hoping the R1 would have 1-2 TB internal.
CFe + SD is also a huge bonus in my book as in some situations it's annoying to pull out CFe card reader, while I swap SDs with ease on the macbook pro.
Especially, now that the Z 8 is only $4K USD.
CF Express C would bring a lot of possibilities.
An endless buffer would be a given even at 50 FPS.
Talking about the top down LCD screen, I'd love to see one similar to the Fuji but if there is one thing that is needed in this camera and following in all the rest are backlit buttons.
Imho, I guess if Canon wants to be "king of the hill" and outdo the A1 mkii / Z9 competition, it probably should have QPAF and/ or a global shutter. Sony/ Nikons offerings already have a 45/ 50 MP stacked sensor, so Canon would need to top that in a way to stay ahead and not only play "catch-up". Especially since the A1 mkii is at least in the works.
Hooray for a larger screen! :) Hope it makes it to the R5mkii or R6mkiii (or anything related) but I guess it´ll probably stay reserved for the big camera bodies with a built-in BG (so R3/ R1).
A customizable, colored top LCD screen sounds intriguing. Something to pass on to the R5mkii please :)
No mentioning of a stacked sensor so far. Do stacked sensors have any benefit when paired with a global shutter? I read so many contradicting reports about stacked sensors, I don't know what to believe to be honest.
For me, Global shutter; this is the only reason I would spend that amount of money.
You can’t really release a body like this later than that and have it ready for the Olympics. Photographers covering the Olympics need time to actually use the body and learn its pros and cons before a major event like the Olympics. There is just too much at risk to go into a once in every four years event with a body that you haven’t used multiple times before.
And, if you are covering the Olympics you are probably also covering qualifying events as well and want to use the camera for those in order to get as familiar as possible with it.
A development announcement in the fall with availability in January or February seems likely.
Oh well :cautious:
More resolution = more details and more cropping power, assuming you are shooting in appropriate conditions.
Of course it also means bigger files and slower operations, all else being equal.
It does not mean more noise at image level.
If you do not need more than 45mp fine. I shoot with an R5 and I love it, but for fashion photoshoots I use a digital back with 80mp and if I could afford a 150mp one I would buy it immediately and put it to good use.