The first time I used the Canon R3, I said to myself, “OK… this is awesome but when’s the R1 coming out?” And now we know, well sort of. Canon today announced that it is currently developing the EOS R1 “and is aiming for a 2024 release.”
This means the Olympics could see the debut of the R1, Canon’s long awaited king of professional cameras. So what do we make of the following line from Canon?
“Canon is working on field tests for this camera, and will support capturing definitive and impactful moments at international sporting events to be held in the future.”
WHAT IS THE EOS R1?
The R1 is a full-frame mirrorless camera for pro shooters that combines performance with durability, something Canon is renowned for in its professional lineup.
Canon’s statement says, “this camera will dramatically improve the performance of both still images and video and meet the high requirements of professionals on the frontlines of a wide range of fields including sports, news reporting, and video production.”
The company confirmed the R1 will have the newly developed image processor DIGIC Accelerator in addition to the pre-existing processor DIGIC X. This system will give the R1 the speed to handle massive amounts of data expected in a flagship.
Flashback: Canon’s 1Dx Mark III was made for the Olympics
Canon says subject tracking accuracy has been improved so the target subject can continually be tracked even if another player passes directly in front of them on the sporting field. Also, the AF “Action Priority” function recognises subject movement by analysing the subject’s status.
The R1 will automatically determine what the player is doing, like shooting a ball, as the main subject and instantly shifts the AF frame. Skilled sports photographers have been doing this for decades. So I’m eager to see how good this system is the real world.
With a growing list of RF lenses, the EOS R1 will have plenty of glass for photographers to choose from when it finally arrives. So the pressure is on, will Canon deliver? We’ll soon find out.