It looks like the first big announcement heading into the always busy Q4 will come from Sony on August 29, 2023 with the likely arrival of the alpha A7c II and the alpha A7cR.
The likely specifications for each camera have been around for a while, and both look to be well specced offerings. Though on paper, they don't look to be anything revolutionary, which to be fair, is a hard thing to do.
Sony A7c II Specifications (Rumored)
- 33MP Full-Frame Exmor R CMOS Sensor
- BIONZ XR & AI Processing Unit
- Up to 10 fps Shooting, ISO 100-51200
- 4K 60p Video in 10-Bit, S-Cinetone
- 2.36m-Dot EVF
- 3″ 1.03m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
- 759-Pt. Fast Hybrid AF, Real-time Eye AF
- Focus Breathing Compensation
- 5-Axis SteadyShot Image Stabilization
- Creative Looks and Soft Skin Effect
Sony A7cR Specifications (Rumored)
- 61MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor
- BIONZ XR & AI Processing Unit
- AI-Based Real-Time Tracking AF System
- 8K 24p, 8K 30p
- 8K 60p (With firmware update)
- 4K 16-Bit Raw Output; S-Log3/S-Cinetone
- 3.2″ 4-Axis Multi-Angle Touchscreen LCD
- 8-Stop 5-Axis Image Stabilization
- Dual CFexpress Type A/SD Card Slots
We expect that the next Canon camera announced will be the EOS R5 Mark II in early 2024. We are hoping to see an announcement some time in Q4 of 2023, but we don't have any information hinting at that happening.
Source: The New Camera
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Canon then came along with the R6ii and R8 - and now has a very well specced midrange / semi-pro camera, and a similarly well specced travel / enthusiast camera in the R8.
I think this is why we've seen a flurry of parts-bin releases from Sony in recent months. Ideally they'd have just revved the a7c to a7cii using that 33mpix sensor... but that still left them exposed - so we saw the zv-e1 with a repurposed a7siii 12mpix sensor in a similar body. That doesn't have the resolution to meet general purpose hybrid / photo needs though - so they have to do the a7cii, and why not repurpose the 61mpix r sensor into a high res version?
I shot Canon for years, then migrated to the Sony r series and shot them for a good while. Most recently I owned an a7c but sold it to get an R8.
The a7c line is a nice platform as a travel camera - good image quality and the battery/IBIS gives it some handy advantages over Canon's R8. The ergonomics are brutal though; uncomfortable grip and lots of sharp edges, poor UI and low resolution screens. That's one of the primary reasons I've switched (back). The R8 is a joy to use, and very well thought out.