Canon hints at retro-styled EOS R mirrorless camera – here’s what we’d like to see
Fujifilm has been at it for over a decade. Nikon has done it, while Sony can’t. And if there’s one camera giant left that could also make a mirrorless reinvention of a classic analog camera, it’s Canon, and I think a modern AE-1 (above), or something similar, would fly off the shelves.
In 2021, Nikon honored its then 40-year-old Nikon FM2 SLR camera with the Nikon Z fc – a crop sensor, retro fusion that captured the imagination of Nikon fans and more. Finally there was a decent alternative to Fujifilm, which for years dominated the retro digital camera space with modern classics like the Fujifilm X100V And X-T30 II.
And with the full frame Nikon Zf It’s rumored to hit shelves soon, but it really feels about time for Canon to fill that retro gap in its burgeoning EOS R mirrorless camera range by creating a very different offering.
Rumors at this stage are mere murmurs rather than solid, but there are some analogue beauties that Canon can adapt into a modern mirrorless classic, so let’s get carried away for a moment and imagine what it could be.
Analog legacy with today’s technology
The site Canon Rumors recently wondered if Canon has plans to release a retro style EOS R camera in the future, citing an interview in which a Canon representative neither confirmed nor destroyed hopes for a retro mirrorless EOS R body. Barely current news, even if Canon used the same language to rule out the actual launch of crop-sensor RF-mount cameras. But like many Canon fans, we’ve been imagining what a potential retro-style mirrorless EOS R would be like.
Canon’s most famous 35mm film SLR is the Canon AE-1, of which nearly six million were sold in the 1970s and 1980s. It has the classic black leatherette body and silver SLR camera look of the era that we’ve seen recently in the likes of the Z fc and X-T30 II. Canon wouldn’t have to stray far to instead pay homage to the Canon FTb or Canon EF – the latter recently celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Or will we instead see a ‘Canonet’ rangefinder in left field? That would put a potential retro snapper more into Leica territory, and is much less likely than a classic SLR-style body like the AE-1, given Canon’s current EOS R mirrorless camera range has largely retained that SLR form factor.
What is the perfect marriage?
Naturally, after the camera design, we wonder what EOS R mirrorless camera tech a future retro-style snapper is likely to use? Will it be full frame or crop sensor?
A camera based on old ergonomics – namely without a pronounced handgrip – fits better with small lenses for disciplines such as reportage photography and is more of a cheap mid-range model. The 24 MP full frame EOS R8 could be a reasonable expectation.
We’re unlikely to see top tech in a retro Canon body – it won’t be a serious sports and wildlife machine for giant lenses like the EOS R3. No, it’s unlikely to need the same level of performance, and will be pitched more for the love of photography and a tactile everyday shooting experience.
A new, old-fashioned snapper would also require new retro-style lenses. Nikon did it with the Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 SE (although we need more options), and most of Fujifilm’s X lenses have an aperture control ring harkening back to the good old days. After all, Canon’s recent R-mount lenses hardly scream retro.
Nomenclature can be confusing; what would a retro EOS R body be called? Nikon added an ‘f’, which means fusion of old and new. Maybe a Canon EOS RE?
We might not see new technology in a retro-style body, but it will potentially breathe new life into what can feel like a very capable but otherwise functional EOS R camera range, and reintroduce a bit of fun. I would be all for that.