NEWS & NEW PRODUCTS

Canon’s much-anticipated pro-level EOS R3 mirrorless camera will be launched during the shelf-life of this issue, but we also know quite a bit about what’s coming thanks to teaser announcements. Panasonic has given its popular Lumix GH5 hybrid mirrorless camera a major upgrade with a particular emphasis on expanding its video capabilities, and the higher-end GH6 will be here before year’s end. Nikon is reprising its FM2/FE2 35mm SLRs with the retro-styled Z fc, which is based on the Z 50 APS-C mirrorless camera, but with a distinctly classical control layout. Epson is ramping up its EcoTank line of refillable inkjet printers that now includes A4 and A3+ format six-colour photo models, plus it’s launched a new generation of large-format SureColor models. There are new lenses for the Olympus OM-D, Canon RF and both Panasonic’s Lumix G and Lumix S mirrorless systems. Turn to page six for the full stories.

Due for launch imminently, Canon’s

EOS R-series flagship will be the full-frame mirrorless equivalent of the EOS-1D X Mark III. In the details that Canon has released so far, the emphasis appears to be on speed, leaving room, presumably, for an ultra-high resolution ‘EOS R1’ model.

The target audience for the EOS R3 will be primarily sports/action and press photographers, and Canon says it will have the same level of weather protection as the 1D X III. It will also have Canon’s first ‘inhouse’ backside-illuminated (BSI) and stacked CMOS sensor to enable a top shooting speed of 30fps with full AF/AE tracking when using the camera’s electronic shutter. Canon claims the stacked sensor design will “significantly reduce” rolling shutter distortion (presumably, as per Sony’s A9 models, via on-sensor correction processing).

Canon lists the R3’s three key attributes as “high-speed, high-reliability and high-sensitivity”, the last characteristic suggesting a lower-res sensor (i.e. in the 25 to 35MP range) to allow for bigger pixels and a higher signalto-noise ratio. This would leave the EOS R1 to be the resolution king at maybe 50 or 60MP.

The EOS R3 will incorporate a number of autofocus enhancements, and will use Canon's next-generation Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology. The upgrades include the addition of a torso- or body-detection capability added to the eye, face and head options. This is designed with sports photography in mind where it isn’t possible to get a lock on a competitor’s face. Object recognition modes – based on AI technology – will be available for people, animals (including birbs) and motorsports… a feature Olympus pioneered on the E-M1X. Low light sensitivity extends down to a claimed -7.0 EV at ISO 100 and f/1.2.

Particularly interesting is Canon’s return to the Eye Control AF capability it first introduced with the EOS 5 enthusiast-level 35mm SLR in 1992, and was better implemented in the semi-pro EOS 3 from 1998. With Eye Control, an AF point or zone is selected by simply looking at that spot in the viewfinder, and promises to be quicker again than using the joystick controller. As with the R5 and R6, the R3’s in-body image stabilisation has a claimed correction range of up to eight stops (with supporting RF lenses).

RAW video will be recordable at 25/30p with full AF/AE tracking. The camera will also be able to record oversampled 4K video internally with Canon Log3 video with 10-bit colour. An image of the camera’s rear panel recently released by Canon indicates that the EOS R3 will have the same ‘Smart Controller’ optical joystick – one each for the horizontal and vertical grips – as the EOS-1D X Mark III. This image also reveals a pair of conventional joystick controllers and a tilt/swing monitor screen. There are dual card slots, mostly likely one each for CFexpress and SD UHS-II.

The EOS R3 will be compatible with Canon’s new Mobile File Transfer app for the easier and faster transfer of files via a smartphone to the cloud. It’s a paid app, initially only available for Apple devices, but also compatible with the EOS R5, EOS R6 and EOS-1D X Mark III.

As with Nikon’s announcement of its prolevel Z 9 model, an element of these ‘product development’ announcements is to reassure existing pro users who might have been tempted to look at another brand for their next camera.