Once the Canon EOS R1 was announced, there were a lot of questions as to what would have with the “3 series”. These questions were very much good ones, as the EOS R3 is aimed at the same customers as the EOS R1.

Canon's official statement has been that the EOS R3 would continue, even after the EOS R1 hits the shelves. While this may be due to inventory or available parts, it's probably a good thing as it will be a lot of more affordable than the EOS R1. Canon may continue production if the demand is there.

We have been told by someone that would be privy to such information, that there is a plan to continue the 3 series after the EOS R3 has run its course. The person claims to have seen a roadmap slide, which Canon does do internally from time to time and has been fairly accurate, even with products that are not not coming in the nearterm.

“New 3 Q1-Q2 2026” was the exact quote that we received, though we weren't provided with the slide as we have been in the past. What obviously wasn't mentioned is what would it be as product. Will it remain targeted at the same customers as the EOS R1, or would they pivot the line to something else completely?

Canon did have two integrated grip camera bodies for a long time with the EOS-1Ds and EOS-1D lines, but those lines were amalgamated into the EOS-1D X. The higher resolution sensor in the line-up moved to the 5 series.

The only camera that never materialized we have been told has appeared in a slide was for an EOS R7 C. We have obviously never been privy to every roadmap Canon has shown to people internally. I'm sure a lot of other products have been cancelled over the years.

If a 3 series camera is slated for early 2026, I doubt much development has significantly progressed. The only information Canon ever gave for a 1 series body was 3 years of development, but that was long ago. I have no idea how you would differentiate another 3 series from the 1 and 5 series. The only thought I have is sticking the EOS R5 Mark II sensor in an integrated grip body smaller than the EOS R1. Maybe adding some active cooling for video work. Outside of that, I have no idea what it would be.

I'm sure this will be mentioned a fair bit over the next year or so. I want to say again, I do believe it's going to depend on market demand of the R3 going forward and feedback from professionals that use both the R1 and R52.

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117 comments

  1. I will note this person has told us about things well in advance over the years (Richard can confirm). I've even made the mistake of ignoring one of them. I have no return email address and they only pop up every 3-4 months.
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  2. Seems like the thing that would make the most sense is to keep it bleeding-edge and position it somewhere between a hypothetical R6 Mark IV and R1 Mark II. Continue with smaller format than R1 but integrated grip, skew more heavily toward "pro" than "prosumer" as with the R6's, and introduce some next-gen brains and features that will iterate and be included in the next 6/1.

    Next gen sensor v. 1.0, next gen DIGIC and/or AI coprocessor v. 1.0, maybe getting some native computational photography features like flagship phones have (seamless HDR stacking/best shot detection, etc). I also think this should be the pro crop body, from which future lower end crop bodies derive their featureset.... But that would require Canon to produce pro crop lenses and not cede that market to Sigma, as today.
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  3. A high MP R3 II is, for me, the only logical option. Some kind of an organically gripped R5 II, with improved ergonomics like the current R3.
    Improved battery life due to the larger battery. Improved cooling for video, equivalent to R5 Mk II + fan grip.
    Price R5 Mk II + 1000$/€ for segmentation.
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  4. Improved battery life due to the larger battery. Improved cooling for video, equivalent to R5 Mk II + fan grip.
    Price R5 Mk II + 1000$/€ for segmentation.
    Right!
    The R3 II as an EOS R5 II Pro!
    Canon: Please, don't produce it, my bank account has suffered enough recently (one body, 4 lenses and more to come.)
    And a Bezzera BZ 10 for espresso...
    My wife still hasn't noticed anything. :rolleyes:
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  5. I have always liked this Steve Jobs Quote:

    ” if you don't cannibalize yourself, someone else will.”
    Interesting.

    If the R3 is upgraded it suggests that Canon's larger market share allows it to do what Nikon--with its drastically shrunken market share--cannot or is not willing to do. The Nikon counterpart to the R5 series is Nikon's Z7, not the Z8. I assert that the Z8 is Nikon's second pro-level body, so its counterpart is the R3, but Nikon's low market share (so far) prevents it from upgrading the Z7 to truly compete against the R5 series in a compact, highly capable all-around body. Nikon might see the cannibalization as too big a risk.

    While the bodies aren't perfect analogs--the Z8 doesn't have an integrated grip, and the Z7 though compact has not been a competitive action camera like the R5 series, and the price points are way off--I like the thought of having three bodies addressing three segments of the enthusiasts/pro markets. Of course, another factor that makes it harder for Nikon to differentiate is that all its high-end bodies are high-MP cameras.

    Obviously, no one is asking me to "fix" Nikon, and this may just be my personal wish for a compact high-res Nikon body that's as capable as the R5MII without the bulk of the Z8, a body that the current market is unlikely to support.
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  6. Right!
    The R3 II as an EOS R5 II Pro!
    Canon: Please, don't produce it, my bank account has suffered enough recently (one body, 4 lenses and more to come.)
    And a Bezzera BZ 10 for espresso...
    My wife still hasn't noticed anything. :rolleyes:
    I am in the Bezzera Magica-Business, whats your coffee grinder?
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  7. I will note this person has told us about things well in advance over the years (Richard can confirm). I've even made the mistake of ignoring one of them. I have no return email address and they only pop up every 3-4 months.

    for reals .. the info he gave you was totally accurate and we didn't believe it at the time lol
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  8. ... While this may be due to inventory or available parts, it's probably a good thing as it will be a lot of more affordable than the EOS R1. Canon may continue production if the demand is there. ...
    I really like the smaller form factor and weight of the R3 over the R1.
    Maybe I'm in for a Mk II in 2026. Depends on the precise spec list,
    With the R5 Mk II delivering more MP, a better eye AF and the AF accelerator, etc. today, I would put my money there.
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  9. I have always liked this Steve Jobs Quote:

    ” if you don't cannibalize yourself, someone else will.”
    So true. I've been spouting this on Canonrumors for many years regarding the 5D series and video. They finally listened with the R5 series, thank goodness.
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  10. For the future 3 series, I see it being a test bed for new technology. Maybe the R3 in 2026 will be the first Canon camera with a global readout?

    For me the R5 Mk2 and R1 are perfect and for the type of photography I do (nature and wildlife) I have very little need (if any) for a global shutter.

    Honestly, the R5 Mk2 and R1 are so advanced I might even skip a generation and wait for the R1 Mk3 and R5 Mk4 in 2032.
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