Talk about being late to the party… We have been talking about Canon mirrorless cameras for years. Canon took a shot with the EOS M and really blew it thanks to an AF system that was not ready for prime time when the camera launched.
While Canon got it together in a firmware for the EOS M, the damage had already been done. Canon released an EOS M2; however, it did not even bother to bring it to the US market after the shellacking the first-gen received in early reviews.
Now, after Sony, Fuji, Olympus and Panasonic are having a banner year in the mirrorless market, Canon is rumored to come to the table with a serious offering or two.
New rumors suggest that Canon may skip the next iteration of the EOS M APS-C model and jump into the market with a full frame model and/or a rangefinder-esque model. The new camera(s) could arrive as early as CES 2015 next month.
People are still buying Canon DSLRs; however, that market is fading while the mirrorless market is booming. If Canon wants a piece of the mirrorless pie, it had better make good on wishes and hopes soon.
[via Canon Watch]
Any more on the tri-colour sensor design from Canon? Supposedly around 16.6 MP though they could claim (like Foveon) that the pixel sensing and lack of Bayer filtration make it more like 50 MP. Seems there is some software research happening to handle these types of files. Probably makes more sense for video, to replace 3 chip designs.
There’s a lot of catch up to do. At this point if they hobble it in any way like leaving out WiFi or a 200 shot battery its instant fail for me. Make it a retro rangefinder design like the competition & I’ll definitely look at it.
Cut cost though by leaving out basic features & I’ll give up on canon for good.
I hope Canon will do so very soon, for their own sake and before it is too late. They did the right thing to switch to the EOS digital system before Nikon and it has benefited them due to Nikon’s delay of switching over to the digital side.. Now, they are very behind!
As much as the DSLR developers are trying to keep their current customers happy while keeping the current lens compatibility in place, In retail business I see more and more people trading in their entire expensive Nikon, Sony & Canon DSLR systems to replace them with Fuji, Olympus, Sony & Panasonic mirror-less systems as more and more people are tired of carrying their heavy lenses and big camera bags for some enjoyment in life and those who have not switch over yet, are often complain about it and eyeing the mirror-less systems.
I have Canon DSLR system; however, have been trying out all the mirror-less systems just about everyday. None are good enough in term of speed and accuracy of a Pro-class DSLR optical viewfinder system like the 5D3, 1DX, D4s & D750…not just yet but getting very close. I am looking forward to the Sony full frame A7 II (and hopefully, A7s II) when it becomes available and see if it will become my second body when shooting faster moving event like wedding or even bike tour…. not expecting it to work with high speed moving creatures in motion just yet due to electronic viewfinder’s lagging issue.
At this moment, nothing beats a good fast & accurate continues focusing system of an optical viewfinder on the Pro DSLRs; however, when an electronic viewfinder is intergraded together with an optical viewfinder focusing system (like Fuji X100), then it becomes possible to have the best of both world.
Is it time for Canon to create a new full frame mirror-less lens mount system and new mirror-less full frame camera lineup before Fuji, Olympus, Sony and Panasonic take over? YES, and best before all the baby boomers spent all their retirement money on themselves or as Christmas gifts for their families & friends for the new mirror-less systems.
People are willing to spend money to follow leaders, not followers.
Well said George.
Until EVFs are truly competitive to a mirror-design in both terms of optical quality and focusing speed (and tracking for sports) I’m not wasting my money or time.
I still don’t see how it is the “bulky” camera body of a dSlR is holding anyone back. Mirrorless designs with interchangable lenses will still have the weight of a lens, which is often quite heavy when well-made (and of a telephoto nature.
I know mirrorless has it’s fans, but for me it still isn’t there. It’s good enough for landscape and maybe model work, but from what I read and see it’s not a well-rounded enough platform at this time.
Well said.
I would prefer a mirrorless camera. I’m looking forward to when mirrorless replaces the moving parts of the DSLR. But I am waiting for exactly the reasons you mention. I use Nikon, but it’s not fair to single out Canon as a failure when it comes to mirrorless. Nobody makes a mirrorless camera on par with the best DSLRs. I hope that somebody will.
I would not be so hasty about mirrorless not being quite there yet, have a look at the Samsung NX1 now thats a mirrorless camera that really is kicking the pants off the `beloved` DSLR system!!
Canon, I love the family of 5D; my 5D3 is amazing. Nevertheless, that Sony a7R is smiling me… and the a7R Mark II could surprise me even more. So, Canon, don´t play with me and offer me something without mirror but very impressive, please, life is very short and there`s no time enough maybe….