Rumors of a Canon mirrorless camera are heating up with July 24 being the unveiling date, according to Canon Rumors.
The camera is further rumored to use a different mount than the current EF and EF-S DSLRs. An increasingly popular theory is that the upcoming mirrorless line of cameras will adopt the Canon G1 X sensor format, which equates to a roughly 1.85x crop factor. This is larger than both the Nikon 1 Series (at 2.7x) and the Micro Four Thirds standard (at 2x).
Of course, the advantage of an interchangeable lens design over the G1 X would simply provide better lens selection. My biggest problem with the G1 X is the rather slow aperture on the long end at f/5.8, as well as the minimum focus distance of 4.3 feet.
Nikon’s rather odd 1 Series format doesn’t quite stack up to other mirrorless camera offerings thanks to the much smaller sensor. However, Panasonic and Olympus are squeezing a lot of goodness out of the smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor and lenses.
In my book, Sony’s NEX line is the mirrorless system to beat. Sony uses a larger APS-C image sensor and still manages to keep the cameras very compact. Lenses like the 16mm f/2.8 and Sigma’s excellent 30mm f/2.8 lens let the NEX models compete in the size department with other smaller-format cameras. And, Sony’s fast autofocus and fluid video capture match or best just about everything else out there.
Let’s see if Canon can step up the game with a solid offering next month (even if it is a little late to the game).
Alex B says
You hit the nail on the head discussing the NEX as the mirrorless system to beat. If canon doesn’t come out with an APS-C sensor on this system they are going to have a bit of a Nikon 1 series issue on their hands. Now if they price it to push hard into the consumer P&S area it may succeed.
Between the Sony and Fuji mirrorless options Canon has their work cut out for them. This coming from a long term canon fan.
Kevin Dickinson says
Does anyone know of any rumors of Canon bringing out a full frame still photography (no video features) camera.
Can’t tell me that I am the only photographer in the world that shoots stills and doesn’t want to be videographer.
Joe says
+1000
Alex B says
There are a few running around that canon will release a mid priced FF to compete with Nikon. That begs the question though…canon’s take on mid priced or actually mid priced?
Joe says
I’ve been using DSLRs for the past 7 years. Most recently I’ve used a Nikon D7000. Last December I bought a Sony NEX-5n as a backup/go anywhere camera. The image quality is fantastic, but the UI drives me crazy. I adapted to it, but I don’t care for it. If the image quality weren’t so good, I’d have tossed the camera weeks ago. The real problem though is the Sony lenses – other than the 50mm and 24mm, they’re average at best. They certainly don’t do justice to the sensor in the NEX-5n, let alone the NEX-7 sensor. Sony keeps saying wait, the lenses are coming, but we’ve seen nothing interesting so far this year. The next rumored lens is a collapsible 16-50 f/4-5.6 – doesn’t exactly set my heart racing. Even if Sony does bring out some good glass, the lenses are going to have to be rather large to cover the APS-C sensor. This negates much of the advantage of the small bodies, not to mention the awkward handling that comes with a small camera/big lens combination. Imagine if that Sigma 30mm were f/1.4 instead of f2.8 – it would obviously be significantly larger and heavier. Forget about fast zooms on the NEX system. The 55-200mm is 6.3 at the long end, and it still looks rather silly on the NEX-5n. One week ago I took delivery of the Olympus OM-D E-M5. I’ve never been a m4/3 fan, but the E-M5, along with the fast primes and zooms that have been recently released for the system have made me a convert. It’s only taken a week for me to feel as if M4/3 is the sweet spot in mirrorless. The image quality from the E-M5 is terrific. Sure, no one will confuse it with a full frame camera, but the quality is more than good enough for most people, even many professionals. Even the fastest lenses are small, light, and very very good. The D7000, as good as it is, along with all my Nikon glass have found new homes. Comparable image quality and performance at half the size and weight? Works for me. One thought about the Nikon 1 cameras – from a marketing standpoint, they’re not odd at all. Nikon had a gap between their point and shoots and DSLRs, and they’ve filled that gap without cannibalizing DSLR sales. The cameras are selling well, so at this point it’s hard to argue that Nikon was wrong. For the enthusiast I see the Nikon 1 cameras as specialized tools, not general use cameras. They’re great with the FT1 adapter. Slap on the DX 40mm macro, and you’ve got a small, light, highly capable system that gives you the extra DOP macro shooters often struggle to achieve. Stick the 70-200mm f/2.8 on the front, and you got a smallish, capable safari kit. As always, the best cameras is the camera that’s best for the specific task at hand.
JARS jean Pierre - FRANCE - 72 years says
Canon , in the old days had a Pellix and later another camera (I don’t remember its name that were semi-transparent fixed mirror SLR .That could do for a new Aps C or full format DSLR camera . No problem with sensitivity which is now very very high .
That would make cameras with less moving parts and very clean sensors, at all time .
But existing SLR from Nikon, Canon , Pentax do a great job and costs are low (in the US – twice the price in France) first prices are have enough quality .
I have a Kx Pentax and I am very happy with it .
dick ranez says
Oh, there’s the rub. How does Canon define the mirrorless market? It is merely an
interchangeable lens point and shoot or is it a real photographic tool. Is it aimed at
soccermoms or hobbist usage? Should they compete with the toys – Nikon/Pentax/
Samsung or the boys – Fuji, Sony and hopefully soon Leica? To video or not to video,
that’s hardly a question in today’s market. Only question is will it be as good as the iPhone?
Sensor size probably doesn’t matter except to the bitheads, but ease of use, compactness and
price do – give me 2 out of 3 and you’re competitive, 3 of 3 and you’re a winner. (obviously
assumes no image quality concerns.)
Alejandro del Piélago says
Video fever is forever…