- Teaser shows new camera ahead of May 13 launch
- The camera body has a tally lamp and no bulge in the viewfinder
- It 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 trailer, posted on Canon’s social channels, is accompanied by 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. Infinite possibilities” for US audiences), and promises a 6am PT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST / 11pm AEST reveal next Wednesday morning.
That message isn’t exactly subtle. Between the narrative language and the teaser footage, which shows someone holding the camera at arm’s length and shooting using the rear screen, it’s pretty clear that this is a video- and creator-centric device. The trailer also appears to conclude with two red triangles forming a “V”, which would suggest that this new camera will join Canon’s existing line of “V” series models.
Look closely at the camera silhouette in the trailer and a few more details will emerge. There’s no hump in the viewfinder and an indicator lamp is almost visible – two features associated with Canon’s early video offerings. Most intriguingly, the body appears to be noticeably larger than that of the current base member of the V family.
That camera is the Canon EOS R50 V, which I reviewed for TechRadar in May of last year. It’s a compact mirrorless model with an APS-C sensor aimed squarely at beginner content creators, priced at around $650/£630 for body only. Based on the silhouette of the teaser, 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 lovely-looking videos and stills thanks to Canon’s excellent, reliable color science. Its Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system is also class-leading for its price. But the APS-C sensor imposes some limitations, especially in low-light conditions, where the relatively slow kit lens doesn’t help, and the lack of in-body image stabilization means you’re completely reliant on whatever stabilization the attached lens offers.
A full-frame variant would address several of those issues at once. A larger sensor captures more light, which means better performance in difficult conditions and more natural background separation, which is of great importance to the YouTube and Instagram crowd this camera would presumably be aimed at. Done right, it could sit neatly above the R50 V in Canon’s lineup as an aspirational step up for creators who’ve outgrown their entry-level gear but still want something affordable.
The big question is the price. If Canon can keep it really affordable, it could make a big splash in the full-frame vlogging market. However, a higher price will face stiff competition from Sony and Nikon, specifically the ZV-E1 and Zr. We will know next Wednesday.
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