Canon confirms the EOS R3 is coming soon
Canon has confirmed it is working on a new full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R3.
Aimed at professional sports, wildlife and news shooters, the EOS R3 will feature a back illuminated, stacked CMOS sensor, a DIGIC X imaging processor, up to 30 frames-per-second (fps) shooting with AF/AE tracking, eye, head and body detection and an innovative new autofocus Eye Control Function not seen since the the EOS Elan 7NE back in 2004.
The EOS R3 is expected to sit slightly below the EOS-1D X Mark III, but above the EOS R5 in the hierarchy of Canon models.
First, the inside. The R3 will sport an entirely new 35mm full frame, back illuminated, stacked CMOS sensor developed by Canon. Powering the camera is a DIGIC X image processor that realises its impressive burst rate - up to 30 fps with AF/AE tracking when using the electronic shutter, a statistic only Sony's A1 can match currently.
Canon says the R3 will also offer new technology to manage rolling shutter/image warping - a common challenge with electronic shutters, and will be capable of capturing moving subjects with 'reduced noise' in low-light environments such as indoor areas or nighttime scenes.
Onboard, there's a next generation Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus (AF) system capable of tracking subjects’ eyes and heads as well as new capability to detect subject torsos, with Canon also confirming development is underway to enable detection of additional subject types too.
Interestingly, the EOS R3 will also feature an AF technology we haven't seen for decades - Eye Control. First seen in Canon’s EOS 5 way back in 1992 before disappearing for good in 2004, the EOS R3 will be the first digital camera to offer Eye Control AF.
This will allow users to select and move the AF point using their eye, via the viewfinder. A quick google search seems to suggest this was always a love-it or loathe-it feature, so it will be interesting to see how Canon adapt it for a new generation of shooters.
As you'd expect from a professional-level camera, there will be built-in dust and moisture resistance at a similar level to Canon’s EOS-1 series bodies, and, like these, the camera will also feature a familiar built-in vertical grip.
The R3 will also be compatible with Canon’s Mobile File Transfer smartphone app, a new piece of paid software that takes advantage of 5G speeds to offer fast image transfer without the need for wired LAN equipment.
This software is expected to be available via the Apple App Store in June 2021, and will be compatible with Canon’s EOS-1D X Mark III, EOS R5, and EOS R6 as well. Android support will be added in the future.
Finally, Canon also announced three new lenses due for release by July. The first, the RF 100mm f/2.8L MACRO IS USM – is the world’s first interchangeable AF macro lens for full frame mirrorless cameras with 1.4x magnification. And, ready for the launch of the R3, are two new telephoto primes - the RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM and RF 600mm f/4L IS USM.
The RF 100mm f/2.8L MACRO IS USM, RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM and RF 600mm f/4L IS USM lenses will be available in Australia from late July 2021, and you'll likely have to wait a little longer for the R3 - Canon couldn't confirm with us when it will launch, but in the meantime you can stay updated by signing up to Canon’s email list.