Canon APS-C compact camera

An interchangeable lens compact camera from Canon?

February 23rd 2010

Assorted rumours that we find and receive about a new camera

 

 

Compact APS-C camera rumours

2010 March

• 4th In news that I'm sure won't be ignored at Canon, it seems that in the UK, micro four thirds cameras made up over 10% of interchangeable lens camera sales (by volume) in December 2009 [DPR] Given that they made up over 11% of sales in Japan last year, I'd suggest it's when, not if we see such cameras from Canon/Nikon.

February

• 23rd Some more interesting directions announced in the EVIL camera catgories at PMA
• Ricoh announces some more lens/sensor modules - 28 mm F2.5 (APS-C) &28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC [DPR]
• That and 'Samsung wants to 'own' the mirrorless market' [DPR]
• 21st At PMA, Sony come out with what they will be offering (at some time) in the compact APS-C range [DPR] [DCR] . If Sony are doing this, then expect the Canon response eventually.
  • Having tried my EF14mm on a 7D, I'd be quite happy adding it and an adapter to a compact body with a similar 18MP sensor in it - that and an actual compact lens too for 'pocket use' :-)

2010 January

• 27th I notice that Thom Hogan has updated his 2010 predictions and suspects that Canon will be last to the EVIL club.
• He posits Nikon's entry to this area as pre-Photokina.
• Meanwhile, for Canon... a -bit- of a step up from the general speculation we've seen over the recent past [DPR]
• The Canon X1
  • "It'll be based on the APS-C sensor, apparently same sensor as the 7D, but with a reduced Image Circle, 18mm.
    3 New lenses. Zoom Kit EF-X 12-36mm, 36-166mm and 15mm f2.4 Pancake.
    There will be an adapter to use EF and EF-S lenses.
    720p 30fps video.
    Articulated LCD"
• The new EF lens type... EF-X
• Read the full thread for some of the standard responses ;-)
• I've updated our standard guide to reading rumour threads.
• Tick off the responses as they appear

#1 Have you seen this? #2 What do they know #3 FAKE! #4 Could you elaborate on xxx #5 Jeez, cant you people just get out more #6 You don't have to read it #7 Those that really know can't say #8 X1 Mk2 AF issues #9 Is that all? #10 I'm switching to Panasonic

#11 It probably back / front focuses #12 What no built in pro AF #13 Why not 1.3 crop all cameras should be 1.3 crop #14 Why not full frame - Canon are ripping is off again #15 Its going to be so noisy I'll have to keep my 20D #16 The more MP are a waste, the lenses can't resolve that #17 It's all lies from from crazy fan boy #18 What, no built in IS: #19 I'll have to be the first to own one #20 Why would anyone want one

2009 November

• 29th In a comment at 43R there is a suggestion that Canon's answer to Micro 4/3 is on its way and will be EVIL (electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens)
• Said to be a 'follow on' from the 1970s G-III.
• A digital Canonet ?
• I'd perhaps prefer something looking a bit 'sharper' like the Canon 'P' below.
• We've not had any specific comments about this, other than canon had some test cameras and was adopting a 'wait and see' approach. Panasonic 4/3 sales in Japan may well push them into action. In the west we often forget just how much of Canon's strategies are driven by the Japanese market. Direct print button almost a certainty then...
• 11th Ricoh announce a genuinely different approach to small compact cameras.
• The GXR features not just an interchangeable lens, but the whole lens/sensor assembly.
• The two initial offerings are 24-70 (equiv.) 10MP small sensor and a 50mm (equiv.) f/2.5 with a 12MP APS-C sensor
• I've used the Ricoh GX100 and 200 in the past and they were rather nice to use.
• There is a good lengthy article about this at DPR, so I'll not repeat all the details here ;-)
  • BTW - I've just won an iPhone 3Gs - trouble is, I just don't use mobile devices. I'd really appreciate comments from photographers as to how they find such a device useful
    ( for photography- I'm not into organising the rest of my life yet ;-)
    Any thoughts? - Feel free to leave a comment/suggestion on the blog
• 9th Are Canon about to resurect the 'Pro' line?
• Some five years after the Powershot Pro1 [DPR] we've had a suggestion that there will be a Pro2.
• It's a "Micro Four Thirds competitor, in the shape of a fixed-lens Canon Pro2 with a relatively large 2.5x crop factor sensor (~13.8x10.4mm). The lens is 5x zoom 10.4-52mm equivalent to 26-130mm f2.8-4 IS L lens. The form factor is similar to the Pro1 (or the G1/GH1 if you like) with a grip, articulated screen and a 800x600 electronic viewfinder. The sensor is a CMOS made by Canon capable of high fps and 1080 video like that of the SX1-IS."
• We've no other info on this, but I must admit to not following developments in this type of camera that closely.
• Not yet APS-C though - we had several emails saying how nice the Canon P below looked, and that Canon could clean up with an APS-C digital version. As to the chances of Canon bringing in an all new camera with a real optical viewfinder ... I'm not holding my breath.

September

• 9th With Leica announcing the X1 compact, could this be time to see Canon bring out their answer to micro four thirds?
• From the Leica Press info [DPR]
• "The LEICA X1 is equipped with a 12.2 megapixel CMOS sensor in APS-C format, as found in much larger DSLR cameras. This sensor, combined with the all-purpose LEICA ELMARIT 1:2.8/24 mm lens, offers outstanding picture quality comparable with professional cameras."
• Retro rangefinder is in (must fish out my old Russian Zorki 4) so will a Canon version look somewhat like this...
• ...and will it have a 'direct print button'?
• Canon P - more info
  (I was born when these were in production :-)

2009 August 19th While lots of people were expecting a DSLR/lens announcement from Canon today, they've actually released a slew of smaller cameras. [see DPR for more info]

Interesting to note amongst the press releases we were sent was one entitled

Return of the S series

UK PR

"United Kingdom / Republic of Ireland, 19 August 2009: Today Canon announces the PowerShot S90 - marking the return of the Canon PowerShot S-series. The PowerShot S90 continues the PowerShot S-series tradition with impressive, fully manual features that deliver excellent image quality and user experience, including: Canon’s Dual Anti-Noise System with an f/2.0 wide-angle lens, a 3.0 inch PureColor II LCD display and an intuitive new lens Control Ring.

Exceptional image quality in all conditions

The PowerShot S90 features Canon’s Dual Anti-Noise System, combining a high sensitivity 10.0 Megapixel image sensor with Canon’s enhanced DIGIC 4 image processor. Photographers can capture full resolution images - even in tricky lighting conditions - with the Dual Anti-Noise System taking maximum advantage of the available light, while substantially reducing image noise. This is particularly useful in low-light portrait and landscape photography, where users are able to shoot high-quality full resolution images even at ISO 3200. DIGIC 4 also includes an enhanced version of i-Contrast: Canon’s Intelligent Contrast Correction technology, which delivers a wider dynamic range to reduce high-light blowout while retaining low-light detail.

The f/2.0 Advantage

Canon has fitted the PowerShot S90 with a wide aperture f/2.0 wide-angle lens to help photographers take full advantage of the Dual Anti-Noise System. The f/2.0 wide-angle lens allows twice as much light into the camera as an f/2.8 lens, enabling photographers to use faster shutter speeds to reduce blur or achieve a shallower depth of field. The camera also includes Canon’s optical Image Stabiliser (IS) technology, which uses a lens-shift system to minimise camera shake and image blur – effectively giving photographers a 4-stop advantage over less capable cameras.

To help users capture the perfect shot, the PowerShot S90 includes a 3.0 inch LCD display, which features Canon’s PureColor II LCD technology. It enables users to frame and review images easily thanks to an exceptionally wide viewing angle, 461k dot resolution and great colour rendition.

Sophisticated performance, sensational ease of use

As befits a camera of this calibre, the PowerShot S90 features a wide range of powerful manual and automatic controls that give photographers creative freedom.

The PowerShot S90 features an intuitive lens Control Ring, which enables users to adjust the settings of various functions by twisting the selector at the base of the lens barrel to the left or right. The Control Ring can be used as a quasi-manual zoom offering a closer view of subjects in 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 105mm steps. Additional settings can be assigned, such as ISO (in 1/3 stop increments), shutter, aperture, focus and exposure compensation - giving photographers a satisfyingly tactile experience. The Control Ring also helps enhance user interaction with the camera by offering fast, accurate scrolling through menus, functions and images. In new Nostalgic Mode the Control Ring can also be used to add an aged effect to the shot, from a subtle faded look to full grainy black and white.

Smarter Scene Detection

For more creative control, users can also choose from a variety of Scene Modes (SCN on the Control dial) that enable them to choose the best settings for particular shooting situations – ideal for creative effects or when shooting in difficult lighting. A new Low Light mode can help users capture reduced resolution 2.5 Megapixel images in very dim light at ISO speeds of up to ISO 12800 and at a fast 2.4 frames per second.

Photographers can also choose from a range of creative modes including
Aperture priority AE, Shutter priority AE, Program AE, Manual and Custom modes. Choosing and using different camera settings is now even easier thanks to an improved menu navigation system, which includes ‘Hints & Tips’ on most settings and features.

The PowerShot S90 allows fine custom adjustment of the camera’s white balance settings – enabling compensation of different kinds of tungsten, fluorescent and other light conditions for perfect results every time.

For quick and easy snaps, the PowerShot S90 includes Smart Auto with
Scene Detection Technology. This selects the scene type from 22 variables, applying the best settings for optimum output – a great asset to those who love to point-and-shoot without worrying about the technical details. Smart Auto now measures movement of objects or people in a scene, activating Servo AF/AE to ensure that the focus and exposure are locked onto a subject.

In addition, the PowerShot S90 offers RAW format shooting and support for Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, making it easy to integrate the camera into a user’s digital workflow. Users will also find it easy to share images captured on the camera with family and friends, thanks to an HDMI mini port, which enables the camera to be connected to a compatible TV using an optional cable.

The PowerShot S90 is available from early October 2009 priced at £449.00 / €519.00 RRP inc. VAT."

July 7th A comment [thanks] that Canon are definitely not interested in any of the current smaller formats for interchangeable lens cameras. x1.6 crop is the minimum.

6th 1.6 crop 'G' series camera for next Photokina (2010 - even years only) a 15.1MP rumour at CR

15.1MP CMOS 1.6x Crop | 3x Zoom 24-70 IS @ f/? | 3" 920k LCD | ISO 100-3200 | DIGIC V | SD Card | 1080p HD | Slightly larger than G10 | New Battery | No Viewfinder (external VF?) | Flash Shoe

June 29th Sony are keeping a close eye on the success of micro four thirds. [CNET]

"...Sony is keeping a close tab on the market and gathering consumer feedback to see if it should develop a similar standard. If the Japanese giant does decide to engineer a new camera based on the Micro Four Thirds philosophy, it will definitely make the shooter compatible with Alpha lenses"

If Sony are saying this, then you can bet that Sony/Nikon/Canon have test cameras/systems in development/test. Although, it's worth noting that not everything tested makes it to market... we still hear of the odd development in the digital medium format market for both Nikon and Canon

22nd Lots of noise still on the Canon forums over this. It's worth noting a comment from Canon in an interview [DPR] after Photokina 2008.

There are some newer comments from Olymous about the compact interchangeable lens market in another DPR interview.

17th A new page, since we've had several comments recently suggesting that Canon will be launching a compact camera with an APS-C sensor and interchangeable lens.

Nothing I'd rate too highly at the moment, but the interest suggests there might well be a market for such a camera.

There's a thread at DPR with some discussion, including the observation that in a "DP interview with Canon's executive after the G10 about large sensor compact, he said the customer should stay with Canon and wait till this market, they would give a big surprise..."

Two separate comments have also suggested a new EF-M mount, although I'd suspect this is possibly just based on news of the micro four thirds format...

16th Olympus announce the E-P1 'digital Pen'.

An interchangeable lens camera with an image-stabilized 12 megapixel sensor 4/3 format.

Widely rumoured and leaked it's raised interest in high quality interchangeable lens compact cameras.

As you'd expect there's plenty of details and some preview info at DPR

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