Another rumor about an APS-C RF camera appears
According to this latest rumor, a purported APS-C RF camera and three APS-C lenses would be developed for the RF mount and released sometime next year.
I guess it's somewhat possible - I think it really depends on how much of a dent the Z 50 makes to Canon's fortunes that the M50 and the EOS-M system is not sufficiently covering. Especially in other markets such as the Americas and Europe. According to the latest BCN reports, while the Sony A6400 crept ahead of the M50, they are virtually running neck and neck swapping places during the month. To be fair, Canon's M50 has two placements in the top 10 versus one for the A6400. The Z 50, after a strong start at its release, seems to be fading placing out of the top 10 at position 11 for the month of February.
I suspect this is a camera that is perhaps "waiting in the wings" that could be implemented if the need sufficiently arises.
I know everyone cries "What about the birders?!" - but that was always a pixels on target, or pixel density game. With the resolution getting higher and the frames per second also increasing on full frame cameras such as the A7R IV, and also on the upcoming rumored R5s - pixels on target is not necessarily an APS-C thing anymore. If you want to have reach and you're in the Sony camp, you're going to want the A7R IV over any of Sony's APS-C offerings. Sure it's more money, but it offers the greatest "reach" of any Sony cameras to date.
Canon may be thinking that is the way of the future, where everything is full frame. Consider the other advantages of this approach. If you have a lovely Canon EF 400mm F2.8L IS USM III that you are using with your 7D Mark II if Canon made an R5s with 83MP wouldn't you be willing to pay more for it? You get to use the 400mm F2.8 at its natural focal length when you can, and digitally zoom down to 760mm at a 24MP crop. You virtually get a 400-760mm F2.8-4.5 zoom. One that beloved 7D Mark II, you only got 640mm of equivalent focal length at 24MP on target.
I think some just thing APS-C and immediately think .. I get a 1.6x (or 1.5x) focal length in focal length starved situations without realizing the other of yes, more costly, but still far more flexible high-density full-frame cameras.
Of course, there's the difference in cost between an APS-C R7 camera and a full frame R5s style camera, but Canon isn't really looking at doing anyone any favors. They will change their mind fast if a significant amount of people get up and leave to go by Sony or Nikon, but otherwise, they, like any other company want to get you to purchase the more profitable cameras they have and if Nikon and Sony continue to make 24 and 20mp sensor APS-C cameras, an 83MP R5s while more expensive, offers the greatest reach.
While I don't necessarily always agree with the Northrup's they have in the past suggested that Canon's best birding camera and Nikon's best birding camera were the 5DsR and the D850 respectively over top of the other choices in either lineup. Simply because of the full-frame high pixel density sensors allow for more use cases, and still provide a high amount of pixels on target.
Also mentioned in this rumor was 3 APS-C lenses. While I'm not sure what the three lense would be, I would assume a UWA, Kit Lens, fast kit lens to be my first three I'd think of. However, on an R7 style camera made really for reach, I'm not sure Canon would even bother to do RF-S lenses outside of perhaps an ultra wide, because there is no other solution outside of using an adapted EF-S lens if you want your R7 to also shoot the occasional scenic when you are out. I can't see personally Canon diverting lens resources away from the drive to complete the RF full frame lineup to make an APS-C lineup. Of course, they could just take the EF-M lenses, and give them a different mount. That would suffice for most cases.
There is possibly one benefit that an RF mount APS-C camera would have over the EOS-M ecosystem that should be mentioned, outside of the obvious fact that you can't use RF lenses on the EOS-M line. That is IBIS. With most of the IBIS patents we have explored here, we have seen a continual amount of patents mention a high amount of communication between lens and camera. Odds are if IBIS was ever released on the EOS-M platform that it would not be able to do both: IBIS+IS. This could be seen as a competitive disadvantage when talking about an APS-C flagship camera. Assuming again, Canon is considering such a camera.
I know the 7D styled camera was a problem for the RF mount - and I think until we saw what DIGIC X and the current generation of sensors could do, it was more of a problem. Now, I'm not seeing it as a problem that much anymore because Canon's performance envelope has literally leaped to be class-leading.
So we shall see.
Now there's the fact that me showing skepticism to a Canon rumor lately ends up meaning that Canon does it. So there's that to ponder ;)
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