Melville, NY—Canon Inc. is developing a high-performance mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera for demanding professionals—the Canon EOS R3. When it’s released, the EOS R3 will complement the three new RF lenses Canon USA also introduced today. These lenses are the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM, RF400mm f/2.8 L IS USM and RF600mm f/4 L IS USM.
“The development of the Canon EOS R3 and the launch of the new RF lenses are the latest testament to the company’s commitment to professional still and video image and content creators,” said Tatsuro “Tony” Kano, executive vice president and general manager of Canon U.S.A.’s Imaging Technologies & Communications Group.
“When the camera becomes available, it will pair well with each of the new RF lenses announced today. Canon is excited to share this news today. We look forward to seeing the images captured with the new RF lenses and upcoming EOS R3.”
Canon EOS R3
The Canon EOS R3 will usher in a new category for the Canon EOS R mirrorless system. The company will position it squarely between the EOS R5 and EOS-1D X Mark III cameras. Moreover, the new model will put greater emphasis on AF performance and speed, with fast-moving subjects. It will also meet the reliability and durability demands of professionals, even when working in challenging conditions.
At its heart is an EOS camera first: a Canon-developed, full-frame, stacked CMOS sensor with a back-illuminated design. The sensor will provide substantially faster read-out speeds during still image capture. What’s more, the completely new sensor will produce less rolling shutter distortion during electronic shutter operation. In addition, it will offer continuous electronic shutter still shooting at 30 frames per sec with full Dual Pixel CMOS AF and autoexposure.
Furthermore, the AF system will leverage technology from the EOS R5 and EOS R6 cameras. Their system uses Deep Learning technology to enhance eye and body detection for better performance during portrait and action-type shooting. The EOS R3’s subject-detection AF will also offer new recognizable subjects, bolstering its focusing capabilities during challenging shooting conditions.
Additionally, the ILC’s electronic viewfinder permits photographers to select the initial area for AF tracking by looking directly at the viewfinder location where they want to begin AF. With eye control AF2 and servo AF activated, the camera will focus on and track moving subjects at that location in the frame. Moreover, when face detect + tracking is active, the R3 will continue to follow moving subjects around the active AF area.
New Body Design
Canon also revealed that the EOS R3’s body is an entirely new one-piece design, integrating the body with a vertical grip. It will also feature weather and dust resistance equivalent to that of EOS-1D class cameras. This is an essential consideration for photojournalists as well as nature, wildlife and sports photographers working in extreme conditions.
In addition, photojournalists will benefit from the mobile file transmitter application for iOS and Android devices that Canon will make available.
Canon will provide full details of the EOS R3’s features, specifications and pricing at the time of its formal announcement.
A Trio of Canon RF Lenses
Canon’s three new RF lenses are scheduled for release July 2021. Here are their key specs.
Canon RF100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM
This is not only Canon’s first RF lens specifically for macro photography but also the first medium telephoto macro lens with a 1.4x maximum magnification. For both advanced photo enthusiasts and professionals, the lens takes macro photography expression to another level via a spherical aberration (SA) control ring.
The SA control ring allows users to change the appearance of the bokeh and obtain a softer focus effect. They can do so by turning the ring to the desired result. In addition, the lens employs an optical image stabilizer with up to 5 stops of shake correction. What’s more, when combined with a camera featuring in-body image stabilization, up to 8 stops of shake correction are possible. Also, hybrid IS helps to compensate for angular and shift camera shake during macro shooting.
Other features include high-speed, smooth, quiet autofocus with dual nano USM; a customizable control ring that lets photographers adjust exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture or ISO; and Canon L-series dust and water resistance. It will have a suggested retail price of $1,399.
Canon RF400mm f/2.8L IS USM and Canon RF600mm f/4L IS USM
Both these new lenses are optically identical to their EF counterparts. The RF400mm and RF600mm weigh in at 6.37 and 6.81 pounds, respectively. They also provide minimum focusing distances of 8.2 and 13.8 feet.
In addition, they share many of the same key features as professional high-end super-telephoto lenses. Furthermore, they are ideal for a variety of shooting situations, including sports, aviation, trains, automotive and wildlife, such as birding.
Among their features is optical image stabilization with up to 5.5 stops of shake correction. They also offer three IS operation modes: still subjects, panning, as well as irregular movement.
Additionally, proprietary Canon lens coatings, Super Spectra Coating (SSC) and Air Sphere Coating (ASC), help minimize ghosting and flaring. The lenses also include fluorite and super UD lens elements arranged to correct chromatic aberration and make the models more compact.
The lenses are also compatible with Canon RF 1.4x and 2x extenders. And they feature a customizable electronic focus ring, with manual focus capability during servo AF. In addition, a 9-blade circular aperture provides bokeh and artistically blurred backgrounds when the aperture is stopped down.
Other features include two focus presets; Canon L-series dust and water resistance along with vibration and shock resistance; a fluorine coating on the front element to facilitate cleaning; infrared reflective pigments with high reflectance; and titanium oxide lens barrel coating with silica for UV weather resistance and heat reduction.
The Canon RF400mm f/2.8 L IS USM and RF600mm f/4L IS USM will retail for $11,999 and $12,999, respectively.
