Canon 120MP DSLR Under Development

As if the Canon EOS 5Ds wasn’t enough already at 50MP, Canon has announced that it is developing a 120MP DSLR.

Canon says that “[t]he camera under development is being designed to facilitate a level of resolution more than sufficient for large-format printing and extensive cropping capability while maintaining fantastic image quality.”

Canon notes that the camera is built for the current EF system lenses; however, it will apparently not be compatible with all of the lenses in the Canon EF line. According to a footnote in Canon’s press release, “Out of the 96 lenses that make up the EF lens lineup, 60 models will be compatible with the [new 120MP DSLR].”

While it is exciting to hear that Canon is developing such a high resolution camera, does this mark the beginnings of a shift in Canon’s EF lens system where certain, legacy lens technology is no longer compatible with all Canon SLRs?

It’s incredible that the EF lens system has maintain such universal compatibility with film and digital SLRs after nearly 30 years. We have seen so many new technologies enter the line since 1987 and the fact that my old EOS 650 film SLR can control something like the new EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens is quite incredible. Likewise, modern Canon DSLRs can operate decades-old lenses pretty well.

I’m sure we’ll learn more about changes in the lens system as we approach a market date for this next generation of high resolution Canon EOS cameras and maybe we’ll find out a little more this week at the Canon Expo.