The Canon EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R1 have just moved closer to launch
- Another new Canon camera registration has been spotted on the internet
- Rumors suggest it could be a Canon EOS R5 Mark II or EOS R1
- Both cameras are tipped for an announcement in mid-May
It’s been a quiet year for Canon, with the last camera launch coming in May 2023 in the form of the disappointing Canon EOS R100. But the latest rumors suggest that lean period may be coming to an end with the launch of two new EOS R cameras – most likely the Canon EOS R5 Mark II and the professional Canon EOS R1.
As noted by a Canon Rumorsa well-known leaker named ‘E8M_8888’ recently posted on the Chinese social media network Weibo that Canon has registered another new camera with a government agency. The ‘DS126928’ model joins a previously registered ‘DS126922’ model spotted in February.
Both models have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth specs indicative of new EOS R cameras, and registration typically takes place in the months leading up to launch. This means the most likely candidates are the Canon EOS R5 Mark II, which would be a full-frame successor to the popular Canon EOS R5, and a Canon EOS R1 flagship for sports photographers at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Canon Rumors believes both cameras are expected to be announced “somehow around mid-May.” That somewhat coy “one way or another” disclaimer comes as the EOS R1 is expected to be a so-called development announcement, with the camera being made available to professionals in time for the Olympics, ahead of a full release in the final quarter from 2024.
However, the more consumer-friendly EOS R5 Mark II is apparently on track to hit store shelves in June or July, according to a separate publication. Canon Rumor Post. The camera is tipped with a stacked 45MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor, a new DIGIC processor and AI autofocus features. Apparently, like the Nikon Z9 and Nikon Z8, it will ditch its mechanical shutter for an electronic-only shooting experience.
Canon needs a hit
Canon’s last really interesting camera was perhaps the Canon EOS R8, which launched over a year ago – so it’s good to see a glimmer of new life in the EOS R range.
Since that camera’s arrival we’ve seen Canon’s rivals release some of the best full-frame cameras ever, from the recent Sony A9 III to the retro Nikon Zf and the all-round brilliant Nikon Z8. Leica has also released the full-frame Leica Q3 premium compact camera, which is a great (if expensive) competitor to the Fujifilm X100VI.
So Canon needs to release something special to keep up – and the EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R1 could be those cameras. The original EOS R5 hit the market way back in July 2020, meaning an update is long overdue – and whether the successor can deliver a stacked sensor design (which is great for high burst speeds and 8K video) for a comparable Priced at $3,899 / £4,199 / AU$6,899, it could still be a winner.
We’ve been waiting for a flagship Canon EOS R1 for years, with the first early rumors going back to 2020. But with the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris starting in July, it sounds like the professional sports camera – and spiritual successor to the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III DSLR – could be close to an announcement.
If Canon also decides to open up its EOS R lens mount to third-party manufacturers (although there’s currently no suggestion that this will happen), then the dormant camera giant could once again start throwing its weight into the fiercely competitive full-frame space.