Recently, it was reported that Canon has been actively conducting market surveys with selected professionals to understand whether there is a real demand for APS-C RF mount cameras. Canon's EOS M series is in an unknown state. It has been reported many times that the EOS M series will die out in its current state and focus on the development of the RF mount. So will Canon launch an APS-C RF mount camera? What will happen to the EOS M series in the future?
Regarding this issue, Canon currently has three camera mounts: EF, EF-M, and RF, among which there are two types of mirrorless systems. The flange distance of EF-M is 18mm, while the flange distance of RF is 20mm. In addition, the diameter of the bayonet is different, so the two are not directly compatible. Currently, Canon only provides a solution for converting the two to EF, and there is no EF-M adapter. RF scheme.
Canon’s EF-M mount system was born in 2012, only 2 years later than Sony’s E-mount system. After the launch of EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM in 2018, the development of EF-M lenses has stalled. No new EF-M lenses have been released so far in 2018. Interestingly, it was precisely in 2018 that Canon launched the EOS R system, with obvious development resources. Tilt towards RF. Canon released 8 EF-M lenses in the six years from 2012 to 2018. Among them, EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM replaced EF-M 18-55/3.5-5.6 IS STM. The current official website is 7 lens. Camera body updates haven't stopped with the launch of the EOS M50 Mark II last year.
For comparison, Sony E-mount is compatible with APS-C and full-frame. In the early stages of development (2010-2013), all lenses were APS-C. Only 15 were launched, which took the same six years of development as Canon. (2010-2016) 16 APS-C lenses were released, with a total of 19 APS-C lenses so far. As for the X lens group of Fujifilm APS-C format, it is more abundant. So from a purely quantitative point of view, although the body of the Canon EOS M system is still being updated, the development of the lens group of the interchangeable lens camera system has stagnated. After all, this is not a good signal. Using "basically enough" is a perfunctory one. Obviously Canon's positioning of this system is relatively low, as long as it is sufficient for home use.
What about manufacturing RF mount APS-C mirrorless cameras? From the perspective of body development, it can be said that there is no problem at all. The existing RF bayonet body is equipped with an APS-C image sensor, which can reduce the size of the shutter component and anti-shake component, and to a certain extent, further reduce the size of the body. In fact, Canon already launched this type of "camera" last year. The EOS C70 is the first model in the CINEMA EOS series to be equipped with an RF mount. This camera is equipped with a Super 35mm image sensor, which is similar in size to APS-C. Back then, Sony used the VG900E to demonstrate full-frame on the E-mount. Now Canon uses the EOS C70 to show us that APS-C on the RF mount is not wasted...
What’s interesting is that Canon has also considered this camera. To address the issue of full-frame viewing angles, the EF-EOS R 0.71 mount adapter (commonly known as reducing focus and increasing aura) was launched. When using the EF-EOS R 0.71 mount adapter, the miniature optical system built into the mount adapter has a 0.71x magnification factor, which can convert the angle of view to the same angle of view as the original focal length of the full-frame EF lens. The built-in micro-optical system of this mount adapter also has a light-gathering effect. When shooting at the same aperture, its light-gathering effect can greatly increase the amount of light entering the lens, which is equivalent to increasing the F number by one stop. If Canon really launches an RF mount APS-C mirrorless camera, through this adapter, you can also obtain a full-frame angle of view when connecting an EF lens.
The biggest problem with Canon’s launch of RF mount APS-C mirrorless cameras is market demand, especially for high-end APS-C models. In the past, there have been APSs such as the Canon 7D series and Nikon D500/D300. -C flagship camera, Fujifilm has also launched the X-H1 in recent years to impact this market. However, as the price of full-frame models continues to drop, the continuous shooting of high-pixel full-frame models continues to improve. High-pixel full-frame models have become a solution to obtain APS-C viewing angles through APS-C cropping mode, but this will increase the purchase cost.
The market demand for high-end APS-C models is declining, which is why Canon has been hesitant to launch RF mount APS-C high-end mirrorless. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of Canon launching the RF mount APS-C mirrorless camera:
1. Unified mirrorless mount (pros)
After the A-mount has withdrawn from the stage of history, Sony emphasizes that "one bayonet", the E-mount, runs through all mirrorless systems. Both Z mount and L mount also have APS-C format products (such as Leica TL/CL), and Sony’s “one mount” strategy is not a problem for them. Currently, only Canon's mirrorless system has two mutually incompatible mounts. Canon launches the RF mount APS-C mirrorless camera, unifying the mirrorless system into the RF mount. Even the CINEMA EOS series cameras will gradually switch from EF to RF. This depends on the size of the RF lens group. In the future, RF mount movies will be launched. Lenses are also a matter of time (Sony has already launched an E-mount cine lens). The biggest victim of Canon’s “one bayonet” strategy is obviously EF-M.
RF mount APS-C mirrorless cameras can directly use full-frame RF lenses, especially telephoto, such as RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM, RF800mm F11 IS STM, RF600mm F11 IS STM , giving full play to the "telephoto" viewing angle advantage of the APS-C format, which can reduce the purchase cost of the camera body compared to the full-frame cropping solution.
2. APS-C users have room to advance to full-frame (positive)
The emergence of RF mount APS-C mirrorless cameras is in line with the SLR era of one mount and two formats. It is expected that users who buy APS-C models will even buy some full-frame lenses. In the future, when they upgrade to full-frame cameras, full-frame lenses can continue to be used, and APS-C lenses can be temporarily used in cropping mode. APS-C cameras can also be used as backup cameras for full-frame cameras. The lenses of the two are completely interchangeable. Only one set of lenses can handle shooting in different scenes with both frame bodies.
3. Lack of APS-C RF lenses (disadvantages)
As mentioned earlier, the RF lens group is completely designed for full frame, while the EF-M lens designed for APS-C The group is incompatible with the RF mount, which means that once an RF mount APS-C mirrorless camera is launched, it will "gain telephoto" while "losing wide angle" when using RF lenses. The 1.6x angle of view change makes existing RF lenses The wide-angle end becomes awkward.
According to rumors, Canon has no plans to develop "RF-S" APS-C lenses, but will launch some full-frame lenses with "unconventional" focal lengths to accommodate both uses.
4. The body size has no advantages (disadvantages) compared to EOS M
For APS-C format, users are more concerned about the size and weight, although the previous article mentioned that it is equipped with an APS-C image sensor Smaller shutter components and anti-shake components can be used, which is conducive to the stacking design in the camera to reduce the size. However, the diameter and flange distance of the RF mount are larger than that of the EF-M. It is difficult to match the RF mount body with the same configuration. EF-M is just as compact, especially in terms of body height and thickness. Of course, if the RF bayonet APS-C mirrorless model is positioned as the APS-C flagship and the body is slightly larger than the EF-M model, some users will not mind.
However, if you want RF to replace EF-M and launch mid-to-low-end models, the body will be reduced and the bayonet will be huge, which will appear uncoordinated. Currently, Nikon Z50 and Zfc also have this problem.
5. Affects the sales of EF-M system products (disadvantages)
For Canon, the EOS M series cameras are its best-selling mirrorless camera product line, especially the EOS M50 series in China. Outstanding performance in the low-end market. If an RF mount APS-C mirrorless camera is launched, whether it is positioned as high-end or mid-to-low-end, it will have a negative impact on the sales of EF-M mount cameras. Users will be pessimistic about the future of the system, and no one will be willing to buy it. A system that is about to “end”. Of course, most of the entry-level home users who bought it in the early days did not understand or care about it, but as the opinions of "knowledgeable" people continue to penetrate downwards, the gradual decline in sales of EF-M system products will severely hit the mid-to-low-end mirrorless market share.
Generally speaking, what Canon is most afraid of now is that the RF mount APS-C mirrorless camera it has launched can only meet the needs of a small part of the user group (such as bird hunting). EF-M products have a negative impact. This is like losing the watermelon and picking up the sesame seeds. Of course, there are other factors mentioned above that influence Canon's decision. If you are interested in RF mount APS-C mirrorless, please show Canon the strong demand in this market. For other users, it is rumored that Canon is developing a cheap full-frame RF mount camera, which seems to be the "right answer".
Author·Editor | Liang Shuang