With the success of the Fujifilm X100VI and its predecessors, it looks like everyone wants to get in on the retro mirrorless camera hype. Canon, the current dominant camera manufacturer in the US, looks to be working on its own version of that camera. Now, a recent set of leaks from CameraBeta on Weibo indicate that the retro camera may be landing just in time — or a little too late — to challenge the recently leaked OM System OM-3 that looks to be launching in February.
The leak provides prospective specifications for the upcoming camera, detailing what is effectively an upgraded Canon EOS R7 but noting that the camera will come with an entirely new body and form factor. Currently, Canon only has three APS-C mirrorless camera bodies: The EOS R100, EOS R7, and EOS R10.
The EOS R10 and R7 launched together in 2022, and the EOS R100 launched more recently, in 2023. While it's possible that Canon may be updating either the R7 or the R10, it seems unlikely that the updated versions wouldn't also launch alongside one another. Late last year, there were rumours floating around that Canon would launch a new retro-styled camera, possibly based on the design of the AE-1 or F-1 at some point in 2025. Given the facts, this new rumour appears to be pointing to that rumoured camera.
Leaked Canon retro APS-C camera specifications
- 24.1 MP APS-C sensor
- 6K 30 FPS RAW and 4K 120 FPS video with support for C-Log2 and C-Log3
- Digic X processor and Digic accelerator
- 30 FPS burst shooting
While initial rumours of the Canon retro camera indicated that it would launch as a full-frame body, Canon may have had a change of plans, and rumours are not set in stone, either. It wouldn't be the first time we've seen a new retro camera form factor launch in APS-C before it reaches full-frame. The Nikon Z fc, for example, provided a relatively affordable entry into a very capable retro-styled camera (at just $956.95 on Amazon) before the Nikon Z f launched.
The retro camera hype also targets a different audience than traditional full-frame cameras. Yes, some buyers of retro-styled mirrorless bodies are those looking for tactile controls and full-frame image quality and capabilities, but most appear to simply be less demanding hobbyists and social media users who simply want more than a smartphone camera can deliver in a fairly compact size. Short of Micro Four Thirds, APS-C fits that bill quite well, as is shown by the aforementioned Fujifilm and Nikon cameras.
Source(s)
CameraBeta on Weibo (via Canon Watch), Digital Camera World, Canon Museum (1, 2)