One Step Closer: Canon Announces Development of the EOS R3 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera

It seems like we have waited for a thousand years already for Canon to not only seriously join the mirrorless category, but also to announce their flagship full-frame mirrorless camera. Well, with the official announcement of the development of the full-frame EOS R3 mirrorless camera, “[l]anding between the robust EOS R5 [mirrorless] and Canon’s flagship EOS-1D X Mark III [DSLR],” we are now one step closer to the realization of the dream. It is Canon’s DSLR “Twilight” and the dawn of its mirrorless era.

Canon’s flagship EOS R1 full-frame mirrorless camera is not here yet, but since the EOS R3 “will be designed to satisfy the most demanding expectations in a professional camera — emphasizing speed, performance, and reliability,” this gives us a glimpse of how much more powerful the R1 of necessity would need to be. Note also that Canon is positioning the R3 between the R5 and its flagship 1D X Mark III DSLR (to be replaced by the R1 mirrorless), so the R3 is not a direct competitor to the Nikon Z9 (which Nikon is positioning as its flagship full-frame mirrorless).

The EOS R3 is positioned as a professional camera for action and sports photography with “great emphasis on superb AF performance and speed with fast-moving subjects“. It features “explosive speed” with 30 fps continuous shooting, various types of AF to “master movement” and is “ultra responsive” with Eye-Control AF to allow it to “outpace” and “outperform” its competitors — viz Sony. [Canon marketing is not shy on using superlatives.]

The “explosive speed” promise comes from using a new, Canon-developed, full-frame stacked CMOS sensor with a back-illuminated design. The stacked design allows for faster read-out speeds during still-imaging recording, produces less rolling shutter distortion during Electronic Shutter operation and allows for continuous Electronic Shutter still-image shooting at speeds up to 30 fps with full Dual Pixel CMOS AF and auto exposure.

The R3 uses the tried and proven AF system from the EOS R5 and EOS R6 cameras to “master movement,” and promises to tweak it to deliver “even better performance during portrait and action-type shooting” and “offer new recognizable subjects for its AF system.”

Eye-Control AF delivers the “ultra responsive” promise: select the initial area for AF tracking by simply looking directly at the viewfinder location where you want to initiate AF. With Eye Control AF and Servo AF activated, the camera will focus on and track moving subjects at that location in the frame. When Face Detect + Tracking is active, the camera will continue to follow moving subjects around the entire active AF area.

Last, but not least, the R3’s body, though looking familiar, is going to be an entirely new one-piece design that integrates the body with a vertical grip section, with the requisite weather and dust-resistance (equivalent to that of EOS-1D class camera) for any professional camera targeted to nature, wildlife, sports and photojournalism content creators working in extreme conditions. News photojournalists would want to add the optional Mobile File Transmitter application for iOS and Android devices for quicker transfer of photos and videos back to their editorial desks.

Three new RF lenses have been introduced today — The Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM and RF600mm F4 L IS USM.

Kudos to Canon marketing for ending all the silly teasers, intentional leaks and rumors that just waste people’s time and oversell expectations.

PRESS RELEASE

Developing News: Canon Announces That The Powerful Professional Full-Frame EOS R3 Mirrorless Camera Is On Its Way

The Company Is Also Welcoming Three New RF Lenses: The Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM and RF600mm F4L IS USM

MELVILLE, NY, April 14, 2021 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc., is developing a new, high-performance professional camera — the Canon EOS R3*. When it arrives, the EOS R3 will be an outstanding complement to the three new RF lenses the company also introduced today — The Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM and RF600mm F4 L IS USM.

“The development of the Canon EOS R3 and the launch of the new RF lenses are the latest testament to the company’s commitment to professional still and video image and content creators,” said Tatsuro “Tony” Kano, executive vice president and general manager of Canon U.S.A.’s Imaging Technologies & Communications Group. “When the camera becomes available, it will pair well with each of the new RF lenses announced today. Canon is excited to share this news today, and we look forward to seeing the images captured with the new RF lenses and upcoming EOS R3.”

Under Development – The Canon EOS R3
The Canon EOS R3 will join the current lineup of EOS R full-frame mirrorless series cameras. This camera will usher in a new category to the EOS R system, positioned squarely between the EOS R5 and EOS-1D X Mark III cameras. The camera will put great emphasis on superb AF performance and speed, with fast-moving subjects. It is being designed to meet the reliability and durability demands of professionals, even when working in challenging conditions.

At the heart of the EOS R3 camera’s performance will be an EOS camera first, a Canon-developed, full-frame stacked CMOS sensor with a back-illuminated design, providing substantially faster read-out speeds during still-imaging recording. This completely new sensor is designed to produce less “rolling shutter” distortion during Electronic Shutter operation and offer continuous Electronic Shutter still-image shooting at speeds up to 30 fps — with full Dual Pixel CMOS AF and auto exposure¹.

The AF system will leverage technology and performance from the well-received EOS R5 and EOS R6 cameras, using Deep Learning technology to further enhance eye and body detection for even better performance during portrait and action-type shooting. In addition, the EOS R3’s subject detection AF will offer new recognizable subjects for its AF system, bolstering its focusing capabilities during challenging shooting conditions.

The Electronic Viewfinder of the EOS R3 will offer photographers the ability to select the initial area for AF tracking by simply looking directly at the viewfinder location where they want to begin AF. With Eye Control AF² and Servo AF activated, the camera will focus on and track moving subjects at that location in the frame. When Face Detect + Tracking is active, the camera will continue to follow moving subjects around the entire active AF area.

The camera body will be entirely new and accentuates the camera’s high-performance design. It’s a one-piece design, integrating the body with a vertical grip section. The weather and dust-resistance will be equivalent to that of EOS-1D class cameras — an essential consideration for nature, wildlife, sports and photojournalism content creators working in extreme conditions. In addition, news photojournalists will be excited to add the Mobile File Transmitter application for iOS and Android devices that will be available.

Full details of all the EOS R3’s features and specifications will be provided at the time of its formal announcement*. To follow along for more news on the Canon EOS R3 camera, please visit: www.usa.canon.com/eosr3.

From Up-Close To Far Away, New Canon RF Lenses Have You Covered

The Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM lens is not only Canon’s first RF lens designed specifically for macro photography, but also the world’s first³ medium telephoto macro lens with a maximum magnification of 1.4x. The new lens, designed for both advanced photo enthusiasts and professionals, takes macro photography expression to the next level with the introduction of a spherical aberration (SA) control ring. The SA control ring allows users to change the character and appearance of the bokeh and obtain a softer focus effect with a simple turning of the ring to the desired result. Additional features of the Canon RF100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM include:

Optical Image Stabilizer with up to five stops of Shake Correction⁴.
When combined with a camera featuring In-Body Image Stabilizer, up to eight stops of shake correction⁵ is possible with coordinated operation of Optical and In-Body Image Stabilizer.
Hybrid IS helps to compensate for angular and shift camera shake during macro shooting.
High-speed, smooth and quiet auto focus with dual nano USM.
Customizable control ring that allows photographers to adjust exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture or ISO.
Rugged Canon L-series dust and water-resistant design.

The Canon RF400mm F2.8L IS USM and Canon RF600mm F4L IS USM are both designed to be optically identical to their EF counterparts. The RF400mm and RF600mm weigh in at 6.37 and 6.81 pounds with a minimum focusing distance of 8.2 and 13.8 feet, respectively. Both lenses share many of the same critical features that help professional high-end super-telephoto lenses stand out from the crowd.

Those features include:

Ideal for a wide variety of shooting situations, including sports, aviation, trains, automotive, and wildlife, such as birding.
Optical Image Stabilization with up to 5.5 stops⁶ of shake correction. Including three IS Operation Modes — still subjects, panning, and irregular movement.
Proprietary Canon lens coatings, Super Spectra Coating (SSC), and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) help minimize ghosting and flaring. Lens placement and coatings are optimized to provide users with clear, high-contrast images even when there is a bright light source.
Lenses include fluorite and super UD lens elements arranged in such a way to help correct chromatic aberration and make the models more compact. Like the latest Canon EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM and EF600mm f/4L IS III USM lenses, released in the fall of 2018, weight on these RF-series super-telephotos has been significantly reduced vs. previous-generation Canon super tele designs.
Compatible with Canon RF 1.4x and 2x extenders, and feature a customizable electronic focus ring, with manual focus capability during SERVO AF.
A nine-blade circular aperture provides users beautiful bokeh and ideally blurred backgrounds when the aperture is stopped down.
For added convenience when on a shoot, two focus presets are available. Users can instantly return to one of two memorized focus distances.
Rugged Canon L-series dust and water-resistant design with vibration and shock resistance. The front element has been dressed with a fluorine coating for easy cleaning.
Infrared reflective pigments with high reflectance and titanium oxide lens barrel coating with silica provide excellent UV weather resistance and heat reduction.

Canon RF Lenses Pricing and Availability
The Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM, Canon RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM and Canon RF600mm F4L IS USM are scheduled to be available in July 2021 for an estimated retail price of US $1,399.00, US $11,999.00 and US $12,999.00, respectively*. For more information, please visit usa.canon.com.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $30.4 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2020† and is one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2020. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.

†Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
* Specifications and availability are subject to change without notice.
¹ Continuous shooting speed may decrease, depending upon lens in use, and shooting conditions.
² Eye Control AF may not be available, depending upon differences with individual users, or the shooting environment. In addition, Eye Control AF may not be possible with certain sunglasses, mirror sunglasses, hard contact lenses, or bifocal eyeglass lenses.
³ As an autofocus interchangeable lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Canon survey as of April 14, 2021.
⁴ Based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) standards. Testing performed using the EOS R camera.
⁵ Based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) standards. Testing performed using the EOS R5 camera.
⁶ Based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) standards. Testing performed using the EOS R camera.

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