As we sit and wait during this most annoying launch cycle, the anonymous grapevine has continued to send information. This isn't unusual, it's part of the game. It has proven to be a invaluable resource over the years/decade. There are the usual trolls that are pretty easy to spot, but for the most part there tends to be some truth. Things can always get lost in translation, or information misunderstood as it makes its way through people to our inbox, but we always respect it.
So over the last couple of months, there have been about a half a dozen anonymous sources saying things, and they're all generally saying the same sorts of things.
How do we track anonymous sources?
Some do give the same nickname on the contact form, which we appreciate. It's an easy way for us to get an idea of their track record. It's very rare that they will also provide a burner email for us to respond to.
Also, anytime you hit send on a contact form, the IP is logged, both by the software that executes the send as well as the CAPTCHA used. Most of the time, people are behind VPNs, but they tend to use the same one. It's not an exact science, but it's a pretty good way to track success rates in their information. We use a custom private VPN, and I imagine lots of other people do to.
We don't do any other further digging of IP addresses, we aren't pals with the real anonymous.
The days of the IP address resolving to a Canon USA office are long over. Oh, how we miss those days! We do see a few lurking around the forum though. We also see a few Nikon and Sony IPs poking around. So, there are some people at these companies are paying attention. In what context? We don't know.
We'll also add, there are a few countries that may not have the same lock down on information and have historically been more reliable than other countries. However, with the proliferation of VPNs, this may not be as reliable now or in the future.
Last week we did get “Rickrolled” with a claimed video of a new camera feature, kudos to you! It had been a while since we last saw Rick.
So here is a rundown of similar information given by what appears to be different people. There is no rating on any of this, we just thought it would be a fun read for anyone interested.
Canon RF Mount Cameras
A couple of these cameras have been beaten to death without much substance, but maybe you'll find some value in the information.
The camera is about a year behind its initial planned launch. The delays have pertained to the sensor and processing speeds of the camera. Other non-rumor publications have always touched on this subject
Everything is about the readout speed to eliminate the negative effects of rolling shutter in both e-shutter stills and in video, without going the global shutter route and some of the negative things that that can come with those. We think the consumers of an EOS R1 would prefer to wait then to have those issues on a flagship. We think the EOS R1 is probably Canon's most important flagship since the EOS-1D X ended the run of the APS-H EOS-1D Mark IV and EOS-1Ds series.
The image sensor will be QPAF, though it hasn't actually been called that. Perhaps it'll have a different name for the marketing?
QPAF Explained (By Richard)
Right now with dual pixel AF (DPAF) sensors, you can focus reliably while the camera is in the horizontal position and your edge of contrast that you are locking on are vertical. If the edge is horizontal (or parallel to the camera orientation) then it has extreme difficulty in locking on. This is because all the pixels are arranged in one direction for dual pixel AF. What Canon needs is a quad pixel, where the pixel is split up, not once but twice, allowing for different phase different arrangements.
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1801/PU/JP-2020-171060/11/ja
It has also been mentioned numerous times that the EOS R1 will get a development announcement and will be present in Paris for the Summer Games. This is the same way that Canon launched the EOS R3 and that went pretty well.
The timeline has been May/June for the development announcement, the official announcement coming in August and shipments starting mid-Q4.
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
While people love bantering back and forth about flagship cameras, the EOS R5 will obviously be much more popular on the sales front. 5 series cameras have been Canon's bread and butter from the day the EOS 5D was announced.
Official announcement in May/June with shipping beginning in July has been the running theme. There are some Canon “events” planned for July.
Beyond that, not much is consistent.
EOS R6 Series Camera
We say “series camera”, because some have called it the EOS R6 Mark III, and others have said “series”.
There have been two suggestions that it is “FX-3ish” or “FX-3 competitor for less money”. Sometimes people do add a little bravado to the information if its a product they themselves are interested in. Comparisons with another company's product have always been hit or a big fat miss.
Announcement dates have ranged from next week all the way to September. We have been given no information on ship dates.
The only thing that we have heard about such a camera has come from anonymous sources.
A fixed lens anamorphic camera
This one is out there, but it's a new world. Who knows?
Full frame, 35mm fixed lens anamorphic camera. 4K 120p and costing in the neighbourhood of $3000.
We have had no indication of when something like that could be announced. We think that this is pretty out there though. We've had two communications that do have a bit of overlap on this topic. It could be the same person though.
RF Mount Lenses
- RF 14-35mm f/2.8L IS USM Z
- RF 24-70mm f/2L USM (Yes please)
- RF 24mm f/1.4L Hybrid
- RF 35mm f/1.4L Hybrid
- RF 50mm f/1.4L Hybrid
- RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Z (Internal Zoom)
- RF 200-500mm f/4L IS USM
- RF Variable Teleconverter
There have been no suggestions as to when the RF 24-70mm f/2L USM, RF 200-500mm f/4L IS USM and the RF variable teleconverter could potentially be announced.
The rest of them are rumoured for some time in 2024.
Cinema EOS
Not a thing! That said, Cinema EOS has never really had a bunch of leaks or chatter for Canon Rumors over the years. We think it's safe to say that Cinema EOS will get some love in 2024.
EOS R7 Mark II
After we wrote about an unconfirmed rumor of the EOS R7 Mark II being announced, we did get multiple people saying that wasn't true in the near term. There will obviously be one, one day.
So there you have it. There is no rating on any of this, but we thought it would be fun to let you know what we deal with. Historically, the chatter does always ramp up before product launch cycles. That said, just because something happened in the past, doesn't mean it will be true in the present or in the future.
We have left out some things that we don't feel are believable (fixed lens anamorphic camera aside, that's just super weird), but we have had some crossover of vague information from multiple people. We have been burned before with dismissing information in the past. It's not an exact science. That's probably what has annoyed us the most over the years.
- 50/1.4 with the size and weight of our beloved EF version. For expensive and heavy, we got the 1.2, that's enough.
- 150/2 macro (1:1). The 180/3.5 macro is gone, rest in peace. A 150/2 could be a really great portrait/macro combo on full frame.
- 600/5.6 - something between the 100-500 and the 600/4 which is affordable and has reasonable weight and price.
- R1s or whatever - flagship camera like the 1Ds back in the days with high resolution and best AF. Once I buy a camera for shitloads of money, I don't want to be needing to chose between resolution and AF performance.
- R5 with 60 MP.
Some other sources are claiming parallel R5 Mk2 and R1 official announcements in May, but I take those with a large grain of NaCl.
It gets confusing when you delete site news too.
Actually I think the EOS-5 (A2, I think, in North America) probably far out-sold the EOS-1N and EOS-1V.
personally on the DSLR side I always used a 7D and 5D side by side. Loved it.
I understand this being annoying for you, too. As you want to deliver more details and "rumour facts".
But it is as it is.
FX-3 form factor?
I don't think there's been a day that Craig and I haven't been talking about this the past few months.
That and me sending him the most bizarre meme's and random things he should buy off of Amazon or Alibaba
I mean .. who wouldn't want a full 747-800 cockpit simulator? am I right?!
But if possible, I'd prefer something more modern, say A350 simulator, esp. as I'm from Germany ;)
Avoiding H+ helps, but while I get a better percentage of properly focusses pictures, the R8 still beats it both relatively and absolutely. 40fps with a better than 90% hit rate vs 15 fps with an 80% hit rate. But when the R7 does focus properly, the 'reach' compared to the R8 is incredible. YMMV of course!
I'm 99% certain I'm going to sell that R7 when I get a shipment notification for the R5II, I think my pictures will improve more by using that money for trips and workshops :)