Affordable mirrorless cameras have been on tech’s endangered species list for a few years, but it looks like Canon is finally coming to the rescue the WWF-style. If the rumors are true, it’s set to release two new cameras – the Canon EOS R7 and EOS R10 – as well as new lenses, all of which will be aimed at amateur photographers. For most of us with increasingly tight purse strings, it was about time.
Last month, I lamented the huge hole in the middle of the camera market where mid-range cameras were wandering. The reasons for this are many, including supply chain issues, chip shortages and a meteor strike called “smartphones”. But another major factor has been the apparent disinterest of Canon, Sony and Nikon in updating their non-professional cameras.
Enter the Canon EOS R7 and EOS R10. According to Canon Rumors, these two cameras will be the first RF-mount models with APS-C sensors, which are smaller than full-frame. This would mean two things. First, they would almost certainly mark the end of the EOS M series, which launched as Canon’s hobbyist series in the geological era known as the ‘pre-smartphonian’.
The cameras’ APS-C sensors should also make them relatively affordable, at least compared to the rest of Canon’s EOS R stable. We don’t yet know exactly how affordable it is, and the Canon EOS R7’s rumored specs (32.5MP sensor, in-built image stabilization, dual UHS-II card slots) suggest it won’t be good. market. It’s expected to be the spiritual successor to the Canon EOS 7D Mark II and EOS M6 Mark II cameras, which launched for $1,799/£1,599 and $850/£850 respectively.
But it’s the EOS R10 that could be the affordable entry point for Canon’s mirrorless cameras that’s sorely lacking. According to Canon Rumors, its specs will be modest, including a 24.2MP APS-C sensor and a single UHS-II card slot. But it will crucially have that RF mount and should be priced well below the $1000/£1000 mark.
Dynamic range
This is a big problem for photographers who shoot for fun rather than money. Canon isn’t the only camera giant to have, albeit understandably, neglected its mid-range cameras in recent years. We’re still waiting to see if Sony plans to resurrect its APS-C line, most of which have been out of stock for some time. Nikon at least gave us the lovely Nikon Zfc, but that’s about it.
Cameras are only part of the equation – after all, there’s no point in buying an affordable body if you have to spend thousands on lenses. Canon’s system also lacks the third-party autofocus lenses that typically offer affordable alternatives to first-party premium glass. That’s why it seems, according to rumors, that Canon is also preparing to launch a few APS-C lenses alongside the EOS R7 and EOS R10.
These new lenses will not be showcases of the latest lens technology. But the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/3.5-5 and RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 should be the perfect starter lens for anyone who wants something more better than their smartphone for wildlife or travel photography. Compact cameras may be dead, but there’s still plenty of room for APS-C cameras and lenses like this – which is why Canon seems to be pushing ahead with this launch, though he let his EOS M system fall into disuse.
Canon’s plan is, naturally, a long-term plan that will have you collecting a family of RF lenses down the line. Lenses such as the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM and RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lenses would certainly, in theory, be very good companions for the EOS R7 and EOS R10. Importantly though, the dual cameras would lower the barrier to entry for its latest mirrorless technology.
With the new
This is the main reason why the arrival of the Canon EOS R7 and EOS R10 is so important. Affordable cameras haven’t completely disappeared – our guide to the best cheap cameras has some real bargains. But it’s become increasingly difficult to find new mid-range cameras that offer some of the latest mirrorless advancements, like smart autofocus.
No one expects the EOS R7 or EOS R10 to offer the same magical level of Animal Eye AF as the Canon EOS R5. But with a version of Canon’s Digic X processors and their smaller APS-C sensors (meaning less data to scan), they should offer a huge leap over the older Canon EOS M series – and be more than enough for amateur snappers.
In the case of the Canon EOS R7, this smaller sensor size should also enable super-fast burst shooting speeds. Continuous shooting rates as fast as 30fps are rumored for this camera. If so, expect to see it captured by the wildlife photographers in your life.
Perhaps most important is the signal that the Canon EOS R7 and EOS R10 would send to the camera world. Will Sony respond with updated versions of its APS-C E-mount cameras? How much will Fujifilm’s X-series need to improve to fend off this new threat? The only winners in this situation will be photographers and videographers – and fortunately, our bank balances too.