- A teaser shows the new camera ahead of the May 13 launch
- The camera body has a counting lamp and has no bulge in the viewfinder
- Appears to be a larger variant of the EOS R50 V body shape
Canon has taken to social media to show off a brand new camera, and we don’t have long to wait, with an official reveal scheduled for May 13. The teaser, posted on Canon’s social media channels, comes with the tagline “One camera, many stories” in the UK (and the slightly more flowery “Every moment has a story waiting to be told. One camera. Endless possibilities.” for US audiences), and promises a 6am PT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST / 11pm AEST reveal next Wednesday morning.
This message isn’t exactly subtle. Between the storytelling language and the teaser images – which show someone holding the camera at arm’s length and filming using the rear screen – it’s pretty clear that this is a video-centric, creator-focused device. The teaser also appears to end with two red triangles forming a “V” shape, suggesting that this new camera is expected to join Canon’s existing lineup of “V” series models.
Look closely at the camera silhouette in the teaser and a few more details appear. There’s no bump in the viewfinder and a control lamp is barely visible – two features associated with Canon’s video offerings. Most intriguing is that the body appears to be noticeably larger than that of the current entry-level member of the V family.
That camera is the Canon EOS R50 V, which I reviewed for TechRadar in May last year. It’s a compact APS-C sensor mirrorless model aimed squarely at beginner content creators, priced at just around $650/£630. Based on the teaser silhouette, whatever Canon is about to announce looks like a beefed-up version of that same design language – and “beefed up” in camera terms often means a larger sensor.
Why a full-frame EOS R50 V makes sense
The EOS R50 V is a solid starter camera. In my testing, I found it lightweight, easy to use, and capable of producing beautiful videos and photos thanks to Canon’s excellent, reliable color science. Its Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system is also top-notch in terms of price. But the APS-C sensor imposes some limitations – particularly in low-light conditions, where the relatively slow kit lens doesn’t help matters – and the lack of in-body image stabilization means you rely entirely on the stabilization offered by the attached lens.
A full-frame variant would solve several of these problems at once. A larger sensor collects more light, which means better performance in difficult conditions and more natural separation from the background, both of which are extremely important to the YouTube and Instagram crowd this camera would presumably target. Done right, it could sit well above the R50 V in Canon’s lineup as an ambitious step up for creators who have outgrown their beginner gear but still want something accessible.
The big question is the price. If Canon manages to keep it truly affordable, it could seriously hurt the full-frame vlogging market. A higher price, however, and it will face strong competition from Sony and Nikon – particularly the ZV-E1 and Zr –. We will find out next Wednesday.
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