iJourneys

John Gough Photography

Canon R1 Spec’ Rumour

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Canon R1?

The rumour mill is beginning to turn with the news that Canon will soon announce a new flagship camera, the Canon R1. What we want to know is. What will the spec’ look like? To understand that we look at the Canon R3, the Sony A1 and the Nikon Z9

A Replacement for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III?

Is this a replacement for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III? This camera is a professional’s favourite. For those news and sports photographers that are still sticking with a DSLR then nothing can replace it. That is sadly because Canon is unlikely to produce a Mark IV.

Buoyed by the success of their mirrorless range which started with the R and RP in 2018. Canon has gone on to successfully launch the R5 and R6 which neatly replace their DSLR counterparts, the 5D and the 6D.

More recently Canon has introduced the R3 which is designed for sports and wildlife photographers.

Those flippy mirrors are becoming a thing of the past and the R1 will complete the range most likely replacing the 1DX.

What is the Canon R1 Spec?

As the Canon R1 has not even been announced, (we are expecting that later this year or early next with a 2022 Q4 rollout). The expected spec’ has to be one that will compete with the new Sony A1 and upcoming Nikon Z9. So what could it look like?

Sensor

There was disappointment that the Canon R3 has a 24MP sensor. The R3 is designed for sports photographers, who require lower resolution images that can be quickly streamed back to newsrooms. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III has a similar 20MP sensor for the same reason.

The Canon R1 is going to be a more general workhorse, so more likely to compete with Sony and Nikon. The A1 has a 50.1MP sensor and the Z9 45.7MP. So the Canon R5 45MP CMOS sensor could be a contender, but expect Canon to push a new sensor to around 50+MP for their flagship offering.

Frame Rates & ISO

Frame rate is important for professional photographers. As a celebrity emerges from a night club you don’t want to get stuck with slow exposures. You need a high ISO and a fast frame rate. Looking at the R3, it has a top ISO of 102400 and a shutter frame rate (electronic) is 30fps.

However, the R1 will have to pull the stops out to catch the 120fps (restricted to 11MP) on the Nikon Z9. The Z9 achieves this with a processor which has the world’s fastest scan rate with what is claimed to be virtually no rolling-shutter distortion. Nikon claim this is equivalent to a mechanical shutter, which is why there is no mechanical shutter in the Z9.

Can the R1 make the same quantum leap? will it also have no mechanical shutter?

AI

What is beginning to set all cameras apart is AI. The R3 has eye controlled AF and subject tracking. What started with just eyes and faces has blossomed into planes trains and automobiles. The goal is to see the subject (any subject) in the viewfinder and let the camera track it in 3D i.e. from every angle. Sony, Nikon and Canon are all moving in a similar direction, which will win out will depend on their mastery of AI.

Other Stuff

What would we like to see?

We like the voice note recorder in the Z9. Surely the technology exists to turn to text and include with the image metadata.

If a camera has low light capability then illuminated controls and an illuminated viewfinder would be welcome.

Should we have to fiddle with the ISO. My phone just works whatever the light. Surely a restricted light mode would be useful.

We are just assuming weather sealing to the standard of the Canon EOS-1D X or better. Why not waterproof like mobile phones are?

If it can be manufactured so that it is really robust, we like the four-axis LCD touchscreen that tilts horizontally and vertically on the Z9. We can add that to our wish list.

Canon R1 Price

Let’s set some benchmarks. The Canon R3 is $5999 / £5879, the Sony A1 is $6498 / £6499, the Nikon Z9 $5496 / £5299. So the A1 and the Z9 are comparable with the R3.

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is currently $6499 / £6999. So expect the R1 to be fifteen hundred to two thousand dollars and pounds above the R3.

For that price, Canon is going to have to build a phenomenal camera, and it should be if they follow this spec’.

 

Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6

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Canon EOS R5
Canon EOS R5

Canon with great fanfare announced two flagship cameras last week. The Canon EOS R5 and the Canon EOS R6. They join their range of mirrorless full frame cameras which include the Canon EOS R and EOS RP. The R5 and R6 are not on sale yet but are available for preorder.

We ask which would you choose when selecting between the Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6

Would You Preorder?

Both new cameras are available for preorder before the cameras go on sale at the end of the month. (July 2020). Unusually the cameras have not been available to independent reviewers. There is now some suspicion that Canon may have launched too early and there is now some kind of hitch, but that aside.

Would you preorder the R5 or R6 just based on what we know about their specification?

Furthermore, if you were already a Canon EOS R user would you preorder and replace your existing camera?

Specification: Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6

The new EOS R5 and R6 certainly have some brilliant new features. 8K video is the big new innovation on the R5. No other camera has this. Remember though, I will be looking at these cameras as a stills photographer who does a little bit of video.

Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6
Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6

Processor

The R5 has been described as a computer with a lens. Certainly, the new DIGIC X processor will have to be beefy to handle 8K video. Whether it can do so without overheating? We await the reviews to find out.

Sensor

The EOS R seems to be the Goldilocks of the three cameras, with a sensor that is neither too big nor too small at 30MP. The RAW files from the R5 45mp sensor could be too big for many workflows. This may mean upgrading hardware. The smaller 21MP sensor on the R6 is after all a similar sensor to the Canon 1D X III, which has worked well for thousands of professional photographers.

In Body Stabilisation

Motion sickness is when you pull up that special shot in Lightroom only to find that there is camera shake. Stabilisation has been on lenses for years, but now Canon has a system on the EOS 5 and 6 that can provide 8 stops of compensation, by combining both systems. Handheld shots at low shutter speeds will now be even more possible and passable.

AF

Following the firmware upgrade to the EOS R. All three cameras now have similar face and eye AF detection capability.

Shoot in the Dark

The low light performance of the EOS R was already impressive at EV-6. The EOS R6 takes that a tad further to EV-6.5, coupled with an impressive maximum ISO of 102400. Add in IBIS, and the EOS R6 really can shoot in the dark.

EVF

Could it be that eventually, an electronic viewfinder will see the world more clearly than a traditional DSLR via mirror and prism? It must be getting close with the impressive 5.69 million dot resolution on the miniature OLED display on the R5.

Video Replaces fps.

Is video now good enough for stills? The 8K video on the R5 could be the biggest game changer for photography this decade?

Each frame in an 8K video is a 35 megapixel still image.

The fps on the R5 and R6 are impressive especially for sports and wildlife photographers. However, why not take a burst of 8K video and choose your optimal image from hundreds of frames. This is possible on the R5 which has a frame grab function that enables you to take high-resolution 35.4MP stills from 8K footage.

How well will this work? Again we await the reviews.

Card Slots

The EOS R has just one card slot. This was a contentious issue when the camera was first launched. Canon has however made amends. The R6 now has 2 SD card slots. The R5 has an SD card slot and a CFexpress card slot. A CFexpress card is however very expensive, a 256GB card could set you back £500.

Decision: Canon EOS R vs R5 vs R6

If I was choosing which camera to buy based on price, then the R wins hands down. It may be a couple of years old, and although it started out a bit shakily because it was a revolutionary step for Canon, it has now become a favourite of many photographers. If you are not bothered about IBIS. Plus if you can survive with just one card slot. Then the R is the choice.

What though if you already have an R and are looking to upgrade? Is it the R5 or the R6? There is no doubt that if you are a stills photographer, if you go for the Canon EOS R5, you are buying a lot of video capability that you may not need.

However, if you are a wildlife or sports photographer then the 8K to stills option on the R5 may be revolutionary. If that works it would make the R5 a worthwhile purchase.

If you go for the Canon EOS R6 you get most of the spec of the R5 but without the video capability. Although the sensor is smaller than the other two. It is a proven performer from the Canon 1D X III, but without the workflow concerns of the 45MP sensor on the R5.

For a photographer rather than a filmmaker. The R6 has a lot of photography capability, for two thirds the price of the Canon EOS R5. We await the reviews but the Canon EOS R6 is the choice.

Canon EOS R Street Photography Set Up

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New Baby / John Gough / Canon EOS R

 

I like street photography because you can walk out of your front door and start taking pictures. Well, that’s not true because where I live in a village in the UK, there are not that many people about. Unless it is the day of the village fete or harvest festival. Anyway a short drive away, there are streets, people and loads of photo opportunities. On the face of it, the Canon EOS R is not an obvious choice as a street camera, but on closer examination, it is right on the button. So what are the Canon EOS R street credentials?

Canon EOS R Street: Lens

Prime lenses are ideal for street photography, they are generally smaller and lighter than zoom lenses and usually have wider apertures. As a result, there is no need to ramp up the ISO to avoid a blurry shot or too narrow depth of field.

Zoom lenses also make you feel furtive and more like a sniper than a photographer. So a 35mm lens is ideal. It is probably the most used street lens there is. Wide enough to capture detail from the right distance, and so as long as you have the nerve to shoot close up it is ideal. Otherwise, try a 50mm lens.

It just so happens that Canon has a lovely 35mm lens designed especially for this camera. It is the Canon RF 35mm f1.8 Macro STM Lens.

I waxed lyrically about this lens here. The EOS R and this lens make a consummate camera combination. Small enough so that finding the shutter button does not involve keyhole surgery, and compact and light enough to carry all day.

Remember mixing it in the street can easily knock the camera from your hands, so take my advice and use a wrist strap. This is what I use:

Canon EOS R Street: View

Canon EOS R Flippy Screen

An articulated screen is now almost a must for street photography. OK, Cartier Bresson did not have one, but we no longer use film either. An articulated screen has two advantages. Firstly, you can shoot from the hip, which is a far more hip vantage point than eye level. Secondly, lifting the camera to your eye is like shouting your intent to take a photograph. Using a discrete flip out screen is far more incognito.

The Canon flippy screen is especially good for this. It opens outward so that the screen is just left of the camera. A picture can be taken by just touching the screen, and using the electronic shutter rather than the mechanical one makes this camera completely silent. Your finger does not even have to go near the shutter release, and there is no sound.

Canon EOS R Street: Set Up

Most street photographers would normally recommend P or Programmed Automatic for street photography. You can set the ISO and then the camera will calculate the best combination of aperture and shutter speed. This works well most of the time, but there is a Perito Principle at work here. Usually, 80% of images are passable and around 20% result in some motion blur or lack depth of field. Fortunately, on the Canon EOS R there is Fv mode, which is a customisable P mode.

Fv Mode

Fv mode is like Programmed Automation but it is possible to switch between the shutter speed, aperture, ISO and white balance, in the viewfinder, using just the top mode dial. Change any one value, and the others change automatically. This is massively quicker than manually changing the mode from Av, Tv, P, etc. Just do it in camera. This is ideal for street shots, where there is no time to fiddle with the camera, and any fiddling would just draw attention to yourself.

Touch Screen Shooting

To enable a touch screen shutter release. CAMERA 5> Touch Shutter> Enable> Use the icon on the screen to toggle between  ON / OFF (the camera will focus on the area touched)

Silent Shooting

To silent beeps when focussing etc: WRENCH 3> Beep> Disable

To enable the electronic shutter: CAMERA 6> Silent Shutter> Enable

Focus Beam

To disable the focus beam that assists focus in low light: AF 4>AF assist beam firing> OFF

Save Settings

To save these settings WRENCH 6> Custom Shooting Mode (C1-C3)> Register Settings> Custom shooting mode> Register camera settings to Custom shooting mode> OK.

Not the Obvious Choice

So this camera is not a Leica M10 which many purists would see as de rigeur for this type of work. No, this camera is better than that.

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because of their exceptional customer service. I once returned a camera after 30 days, and the next day they called to return my money to my account. Their prices are always competitive and they offer good prices on the trade in of your used gear


Canon EOS R Ten Positive Points

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Canon EOS R

 

The Canon EOS R is Canon’s first foray into the world of full frame mirrorless cameras. It was launched to stem the flow of sales to the amazing Sony 7aIII.

There were months of speculation in the photography press about whether and when Canon would join the mirrorless revolution and launch a FF mirrorless camera. So it was more a relief than a celebration when the Canon EOS R was introduced. At last Canon (and Nikon) were now embracing mirrorless, and there was much conjecture about how the traditional DSLR with its old fashioned mirror mechanism would be consigned to history.

The reviews from the press and vloggers have been mixed, which makes a decision of whether to buy all the more difficult. If you are researching which camera to buy next, and you have read all the Canon EOS R reviews. Here are 10 positive pointers that you may have missed and which may just sway your decision.

1 Ken Rockwell Endorsement

Ken Rockwell who is not often given to hyperbole was particularly positive about Canon’s move to mirrorless, and he is a big advocate for the Canon EOS R. His advocacy alone is a reason to buy. This is probably the best review of the camera you will ever read or ever need. Furthermore, he does a comparison vs the Sony A7III and the Nikon Z7 / Z6. I thought the Sony was bound to win, but the Canon wins outright.

2 Adapters

The Canon EOS R comes with three adapters to attach legacy lenses to the new camera. The feedback from users is all positive. Amazingly the adapters will accommodate every EF lens since 1987!  This means that for Canon owners that have lenses tucked away in cupboards and drawers, these can be dug out and used again and again.

3 New Fv Mode

There is no longer a mode dial on the Canon EOS R, but press the mode button and turn the outer dial you will notice a new innovation the Fv exposure mode. This is a flexible exposure setting which is like Program, but enables the adjustment of Aperture, Shutter Speed, Exposure Compensation and ISO. As one is changed the others update automatically. This is entirely appropriate for a mirrorless camera, because as the changes that are made the result can be viewed through the electronic viewfinder (EVF)

4 Electronic Viewfinder.

An impressive spec’ a 3.69M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder, is especially effective when used with the high speed display option. However, a downside of the EVF is that the brightness control  needs changing as the camera is moved from inside to outside, but note that this can be set up with a custom button.

5 Multiple Exposures

The EOS R bastardises the functionality of the Canon 6D2 and the Canon 5D MKIV. It borrows features from each. One feature taken directly from the 5D is full function multiple exposures in camera. The unique feature however with the EOS R is to be able to view the effect of one exposure on another in the viewfinder. One of the chief exponents of this creative technique is Doug Chinnery who explains how.

6 Shutter

Dust particles on the sensor are a nuisance to clone out in post.  A small point but the shutter on the EOS R closes when switched off, so the sensor is not as prone to dust particles. Unlike say the Sony A7III which stays open.

7 C-RAW Format

Latest Digic 8 processor allows for C-RAW compressed Raw format. This means better compression and smaller file sizes. This is technical so read up here.

8 Lens Extender

I am picking up that teleconverters / extenders which increase the focal length of a lens, autofocus more effectively than a traditional DSLR cameras. For wildlife and aircraft photographers this is a big deal. Again this is technical so read up here.

9 Battery Life

Batteries are generally improving on mirrorless cameras to take the load that the EVF which gobbles up resources. Ken Rockwell claims over 1000 shots are possible in ECO mode. Battery life is CIPA-rated at 370 shots per charge (450 using Power Saving mode).

10 On Sensor Autofocus

One of the impressive features on the Canon EOS R is low light performance. The Dual Pixel AF system has a whopping 5655 selectable AF points and it can focus at light levels as low as -6EV. To put that into context this is a night time scene with no moon or street lights but just some starlight i.e. equivalent to a 2 minute exposure, at f1.4, ISO 3200.

Summary

The reviews of the Canon EOS R have tended to focus on what the camera does not have e.g. dual card slot, IBIS, video capability etc. There have been plenty of negative comments, my own included, but sometimes in the words of the late great Jiminy Cricket.

“You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mr In-Between”

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because of their exceptional customer service. I once returned a camera after 30 days, and the next day they called to return my money to my account. Their prices are always competitive and they offer good prices on the trade in of your used gear



 

 

Sony a7000 Delay Due to Fujifilm X-T3

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Fujifilm X-T3

Just what is Sony up to with the launch of the Sony a7000? Normally so assured the company seems to have got jittery about the launch of their new replacement for the Sony a6500. First, we heard speculation that the launch may be at Photokina earlier this month, then the launch date was confidently predicted to be yesterday the 16th October. But nothing. Sony is being very tight lipped.

Sony is used to being years ahead with their cameras. The launch of their full frame mirrorless Sony a7III threw the industry into despair and forced both Canon and Nikon to respond with $2000  full frame mirrorless cameras of their own.

The forums and rumour mills have been bubbling with the prospect of the Sony a7000 with a spec which would blow existing APS-C cameras out of the water. Sony is used to having an upper hand. It is their ethos to be ahead with stunning technology. Sony has the advantage of being able to leverage the technology which is being developed across the corporation and bringing it to bear in new products. So perhaps the launch of the Fujifilm X-T3 has taken them by surprise.

The Launch of the Fujifilm X-T3

In many ways, the Fujifilm XT-3 delivers the functionality and specification we expected on the Sony a7000. As DPReview commented, ‘this model is way more than an upgrade; rather, it’s a dramatic step forward’.

Specifically:

  • 26.1MP Sensor
  • 425-point hybrid AF system
  • Three-axis tilting touchscreen
  • 4K/60P 4:2:0 10bit internal SD card recording
  • Full HD 1080/120p slow motion recording
  • 30 fps continuous shooting with a 1.25x crop (electronic shutter)
  • 20 fps continuous shooting at full resolution
  • 3.69-million-dot high resolution EVF
  • Dual UHS-II SD card slots
  • £1349 price tag

Sony will have to pull out some stops to beat this mindblowing spec. Furthermore, the rumours are that Sony is moving away from the Sony a6500 iconic design, back to a central prism type viewfinder layout, no at all dissimilar to the Fujifilm XT-3!

So it may be that Sony is in a dilemma, do they launch a me too Fujifilm equivalent, or do they get back to the drawing board. Rumours are that the Sony a7000 may now be delayed to 2019.

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

Sony a7000 Rumours

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Sony a6300 with Sony Vario-Tessar T E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS

Sony a7000. Will it look the same as the a6000 series?

We don’t know what it is going to be called, there are rumours that it could be a Sony a7000. However, speculation is growing that after Photokina, which ends in Cologne on the 29th September, and before the PhotoPlus EXPO in late October 2018. Sony will announce an APS-C camera that is a ‘mini A9’. So a small light weight high spec’ camera with world class technology.

The Mirrorless Market

The camera world has been focussed on full frame cameras, with the launch of the Canon EOS R and the Nikon Z (pronounced like pee). However, they are following the lead of Sony with the launch of the groundbreaking Sony a7III. It is interesting that the narrative around mirrorless cameras has been changing. We have commented before that Canon and Nikon have launched big mirrorless cameras, and the ethos of small, light and portable had been lost. Instead, the excuse for big mirrorless cameras is that they are the platform for future advances in technology. Faster burst rates, closer integration with video, information packed viewfinders and subject tracking AF. What if Sony could pack all that technology into a small package Sony a7000?

So congratulations to Fujifilm in keeping the same form factor with the launch of XT-3, a small camera bursting with technology, which can be partnered with small high quality lenses.

Whereas we once saw the APS-C market declining as consumers moved to full frame, perhaps Sony see an opportunity with the Sony a7000,  to create sophisticated cameras that will appeal to those that are more used to their phone, rather than a camera the size of a handbag.

A ‘mini a9’

By creating a flagship ‘mini a9’ with an APS-C sensor, which sat on top of the a6000 series. Sony would have created a unique range. Nikon and Canon would have nothing that could compete. So where do they go? Leave the market to Fujifilm, Olympus and Sony? Or as they have done recently, rush out their own models?

Sony is out for domination. In the mirrorless space, it looks as though they are going for a pincer movement

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

 

Is the Canon EOS R a Rip Off?

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Canon EOS R

We were not invited to a luxury hotel in Hawaii to see the launch presentation of the new full frame mirrorless camera from Canon, the Canon EOS R. However, what struck me from the limited specs and pictures we have seen, is just how big the new camera and the new RF lenses seem to be.

This is the Canon EOS R with the 50mm RF lens.

Canon EOS R

 

The Canon EOS R is Big

There were only ever two real benefits of mirrorless over DSLR’s. That is size and weight. Taking out the mirror mechanism enabled the camera to lose weight and become less bulky. An example is the Sony a6500, which is just one-third of the bulk of the equivalent APS-C sensor, Canon 7D Mark 2. It also weighs around half as much as the Canon.

Canon is not alone, both Sony and Nikon full frame mirrorless cameras have become bigger, as these manufacturers grapple with including bigger batteries to illuminate their power hungry electronic viewfinders.

Canon, however, seems to have lost the mirrorless ethos. Compared with their own similar spec DSLR, the Canon 6D Mark II. The mirrorless Canon EOS R, is 94% of the size and 87% of the weight. The question we have to ask ourselves is. Is this a mirrorless camera or is this a DSLR without a mirror?

Incidentally, this beefy shell has been achieved without a quantum leap in battery performance. Which is 330 shots, so spare batteries or a grip are essential.

The Canon RF lenses are Huge.

Moving on to lenses, the Canon RF lenses which go with the Canon EOS R, are massive. Admittedly the RF 24-105mm f4L is similar in size and weight to the DSLR equivalent the EF 24-105mm f4L. However, the RF 50mm f1.2L is over 70% larger than the equivalent EF lens and 60% heavier. This new lens costs £2349 and does not even have stabilisation and neither does the camera!

The new fat RF 28-70 f2L weighs in at a gigantic 3lbs.  That’s a lot to carry around with you on your next mountain trip. Plus there is no stabilisation so add a tripod.

Conclusion

This big camera and huge lenses change the mirrorless paradigm. No longer are these cameras fun, lightweight, and portable. They have returned to being Canon and sensible, like wearing a tie with shiny shoes.

Where I Buy

I buy my equipment from Wex because I have genuinely found that they offer great advice and customer service.

 

 

Canon Full Frame Mirrorless Rumours

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Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Thanks to Canon Rumours for this information but it seems that Canon is poised to launch a Canon full frame mirrorless camera anytime soon. We wrote recently that Sony was so far ahead in terms mirrorless technology and glass, that the likes of Nikon and Canon could never catch up. However, the latest rumours from Canon may just change all that.

Nikon Z Series

Since then Nikon has announced the full frame Nikon Z6 and Z7. Please note that Nikon is insisting that Nikon is pronounced like nitrogen rather than knickers, and Z should rhyme with pee. These cameras have not been reviewed yet, but have had mixed first impressions following carefully controlled hands-on sessions for journos and bloggers. To get a feel. This is the review from Tony & Chelsea.

The big hold that Canon and Nikon have on the market is lenses. Photographers have scrimped and saved to put together a portfolio of glassware and are reluctant to trade it in and start again. Nikon have only three lenses for the Z series. There is a promise of an adaptor and a road map for new Z lenses into the 2020’s. This is a further drawback for the Nikon Z which rhymes with tea.

Canon Full Frame Mirrorless

We thought this is the way the market would play out. With a ‘me too’ launched by the big players that did not quite match Sony. However, there are rumours that the new Canon full frame mirrorless camera will have a mount that will accommodate EF lenses. This would indeed be a game changer.

It is rumoured the Canon full frame mirrorless is called the Canon EOS R, with new design RF lenses. The rumoured specifications are similar to the Sony a7III, and are listed by Canon Watch.

Launching a camera that can use legacy lenses would be a significant achievement. It would seem that the only way that Canon may have got around the flange distance problem. That is the difference between DSLR EF lenses and the new RF lenses. Might be to allow these lenses to protrude into the body of the camera. Who knows?

It is a tantalising prospect that Canon may have solved the lens dilemma without needing to resort to a separate adaptor like Nikon. If that is the case, then it is game on between Canon and Sony in the full frame mirrorless battle to come.

Sony a7000 Rumours

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Sony a6300 with Sony Vario-Tessar T E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS

Sony a6300

We thought it would be the a6700 that would replace the Sony a6500, but the latest rumours are that a new model, the Sony a7000 will be released. This camera will be a small APS-C camera, like the a6500, but not necessarily a successor to it.

As we said when we talked about the rumoured a6700. Sony has to do things with this camera over and above just extending the existing features of the a6500.

Why the Sony a7000 is Important

Firstly, we know that Sony is going for dominance of the mirrorless market. This means chipping away at the territory that is very well defended by Fujifilm. We know that there is an XT-3 on the horizon, which will supplant the massively popular Fujifilm X-T2. This will be the camera that the a7000 will have to go up against and win.

Secondly, the Sony gamechanger in the full frame arena, the Sony a7III has been selling furiously because of its amazing price point of £2000 / $2000. If the a7000 has a similar spec but is not a lot cheaper. Then consumers may as well just spend a bit more and trade up to a7III. Sony will want a price point at around £1600 to match the Fujifilm X-T3, which will have to come in under the X-H1 which currently retails for £1700.

So the Sony a7000 has to be special.

Suspected Features of the Sony a7000

We should not put it past Sony to introduce a gamechanger into the APS-C space, as it has done with the A7III in the full frame market. Already this new camera is being rumoured to be a mini A9, the Sony full frame flagship.

  • The size is likely to increase to accommodate the new Z type battery. This could mean just a bigger grip, but would likely look odd if the remaining dimensions remain the same.
  • Sony has been doing a lot of work on improving rolling shutters so that images do not appear elongated when shot at insanely high fps. We know that Sony has patents for a global shutter. The difference is explained here
  • Talking of fps, 20 fps is rumoured vs 10 fps on the A7III and 20fps on the A9.
  • Fully articulating screen, a must for v-bloggers.
  • Improved IBIS. Better than 5 stops?
  • Updated sensor. Possibly a stacked CMOS sensor similar to the A9, which would mean that it could read focus and exposure data at an amazing 60 times per second, to enable faultless tracking and autofocus.
  • 4K 60p video as is rumoured on the X-T3

Concern Over Rumoured Sony a7000

A niggling concern is that Sony may be trying to create a premium APS-C camera like the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R MKII compact camera. In the compact camera market where the average price is around £500, this camera costs £3000. A great camera, but just too pricey.

What would delight us a6xxx shooters would be if the a7000 heralded a new genesis, which like the a6000 went on to create a line of great cameras.

Mirrorless Full Frame Cameras. The Race is On.

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Start / John Gough / Sony a6300

A couple of YouTube videos have described the state of the interchangeable lens camera market as ‘Mirrorless Wars’. However, this is a misnomer it is not a war but a race, and the big players have yet to start.

The Race

To recap. The Sony launch of the Sony a7III was a gamechanger. A mirrorless full frame camera for £2000 packed with technology. It has been hailed as stunning by all who reviewed it. At a time when sales of DSLR’s are steadily declining, the a7III is now the best selling camera in the United States. Sony has taken on the goliaths of the pro/enthusiast market: Nikon and Canon and made deep inroads into a territory, they thought was theirs by divine right.

Sony is throwing down the gauntlet, challenging both Nikon and Canon to have a go. Nikon has responded. This week they will announce two mirrorless full frame cameras to challenge Sony. Commentators think a war will break out, with creaky old Nikon pulling a fast one and suddenly bettering the Sony offer.

What we have is no war, it is not even a battle, a fight or a skirmish. It is a race. If it were a Grand Prix, Sony would be laps ahead with a range of brilliant mirrorless full frame cameras and lenses.  Nikon would have a car that is ready to go, but must be sensationally fast to beat the best. We will see on Thursday. Canon is meanwhile working in the pits, but no one knows on what. Olympus and Fujifilm are chatting in the stands, keeping a safe distance, waiting and hoping that their loyal supporters will stick with their micro four thirds, and APS-C offerings. Click here to make sense of that statement.

Talking Flanges

Continuing on this racing analogy, beware I am now going to talk flanges because this is the handicap, that both Nikon and Canon must overcome.

In a DSLR camera, there has to be room for the mirror mechanism. In mirrorless cameras, there is obviously no mirror. This means that the camera can be a lot less heavy and less bulky. The result is that the lens is now much closer to the sensor. Consequently, the flange distance has changed which means that a new mount is required. The last time Nikon introduced a new mount was in 1959!

This is key to understanding the dilemma Nikon and Canon are in. They have for years made money on lenses developed in the past and sold today. It is their biggest profit stream, and it is going to slowly fade away. They will no doubt create adaptors so that old lenses can be used on these new cameras, but they will not work as well as a lens designed for a mirrorless camera.  That is because DSLRs use phase detection autofocus vs contrast detection in mirrorless. This means that lenses have to be capable of micro movements, which enables the clever technology around focus tracking and eye detection, which makes the Sony mirrorless full frame camera so versatile.

On the Starting Grid

So Nikon and Canon have a lot of catching up to do, which means that what they offer in this marketplace will have to be truly amazing. This is a race, in which we the consumers are the winners.

 

The Mirrorless War Video

From Kevin Raber at Luminous Landscape

Where I Buy

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This Image was Taken on a Sony