Canon has revealed its enterprise technique plans for 2022 onwards and, for followers of the digicam maker, there’s excellent news. Canon is eager to “set up world no.1 share even in mirrorless cameras” and can “additional improve lineup of EOS R system cameras and lenses”.
This actually should not come as a giant shock – and possibly would not be too exhausting to realize – contemplating the momentum Canon has constructed up for the reason that launch of the EOS R5 and EOS R6 our bodies, which it quickly adopted up with the EOS R3 and the video-centric EOS R5 C. And there is already fairly a couple of new RF lenses too, together with the monster RF 1200mm f/8L IS USM.
There’s been loads of discuss a possible EOS R flagship coming this 12 months within the type of what’s been dubbed the EOS R1, plus a potential EOS R7 that is rumored to be an APS-C format digicam with an RF mount. There’s even been chatter concerning the EOS RP being changed by a refreshed (and hopefully simply as reasonably priced) mannequin.
Whereas Canon’s enterprise technique would not lay any agency roadmap for growing new our bodies, the corporate appears very eager on increasing its RF lens vary “on the identical tempo”. To place that into agency numbers: Canon added eight new RF lenses to its steady in 2021, so we will count on one other eight this 12 months (if the digicam maker manages to maintain to the “identical tempo”), totalling 32 in 4 years’ time.
Evaluation: specializing in the way forward for Canon cameras
The EOS R system is not Canon’s sole precedence, although. There’s the Cinema line of our bodies and lenses that is additionally being expanded at a gentle tempo, plus all of the idea cameras that Canon retains experimenting with (keep in mind the PowerShot Zoom and PowerShot Choose?).
For instance, there’s the brand new digital actuality video system known as Kokomo that Canon teased at CES 2022. In accordance with the producer, Kokomo is an “thrilling new means of connecting” by permitting customers to make video calls in a 3D setting. That is consumer-facing too and will discover Canon some new followers.
As fascinating because the ideas are, Canon’s fanatic/prosumer cameras and lenses are stealing the present, at the least in accordance with the most recent numbers popping out of Japan.
Even through the Covid-19 pandemic, Canon noticed sustained development ensuing from its shift to concentrating on the mirrorless market. Regardless of that, the January 2022 BCN Awards (which acknowledges the gross sales achievements of digicam producers annually) confirmed that Canon may have truly bought extra DSLRs in 2021 than the earlier 12 months, which could appear quite counterintuitive however proves that DSLRs are nonetheless hanging on (which may be excellent news for Pentax).
As per Canon’s 2021 monetary report, its interchangeable lens digicam gross sales dropped solely by 1% final 12 months as in comparison with 2020, holding over half (52%) of the worldwide ILC market, which is a reasonably outstanding achievement when the world of tech was suffering from half shortages and different knock-on results of the pandemic.
So clearly Canon is doing one thing proper. Regardless of its overheating points, the EOS R5 stole headlines, whereas the EOS R6 gave the common client an opportunity to buy a outstanding full-frame mirrorless digicam to match the R5’s efficiency. And whereas a high-res physique to compete with the Sony A7R IV is fascinating, I am actually holding out for one thing that sits between the EOS R5 and R6 – one thing with perhaps 32MP sensor decision however the identical autofocus efficiency.
In accordance with the identical BCN Awards report talked about above, Canon continues to be behind Sony within the mirrorless market, however not that far behind (28.2% versus 32% respectively). Sony, nevertheless, has an in depth vary of native lenses for its full-framers. With Canon’s plans to develop its RF line “on the identical tempo”, the model will be capable to compete even more durable with its fundamental mirrorless rival.
So Canon’s aim to dominate the world of mirrorless cameras may be achievable if it retains the momentum going and might sustain with demand.
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