Cannon, Nikon and Panasonic introduce FF mirrorless systems.

[flamin lib]

I haven't looked at the Panasonic offering yet but the big news there is that they will have a proprietary sensor instead of using Sony as a provider.

The Cannon EOS R uses the same 30 mpxl sensor and processor from the DSLR line. It will have a silent electronic shutter (hallelujah), use both PDAF and CDAF over 88% of the sensor and both bluetooth and wifi capability. It has enhanced video capability but I'm not a videographer so I'll let others discuss that. Beyond that there isn't a lot of new stuff offered. All existing lenses will retrofit using adapters.

I'm a bit disappointed in that given the opportunity to start from itch (one step before scratch) Cannon neglected the opportunity to incorporate the latest features that have been available for a decade or more in competitors like in body image stabilization. Why with so many in lens IS options that could communicate with the body for exceptional IS? Only single af operation, no constant af or af tracking. No mention of in camera HDR or focus stacking. Also, though the body is considerably smaller than a DSLR the lenses don't follow suit. In fact the 50mm 1.2 is considerably larger than the same DSLR lens. What's up with that?

The Nikon Z series gets it right! Two offerings, Z6 and Z7. The 6 offers a 24 mpxl sensor, the 7 a 45.7 mpxl. Both have in body image stabilization (5 stop compensation) and a new image processor. All F mount lenses will adapt to the new lens mount and some with in lens stabilization will function in tandem with the IBIS for 5 axis correction. The lens offering as it now stands is also smaller than the DLSR equivalent. Nikon gives up a little lens speed over Cannon to save on size but in practicality very little shooting is done wide open, at least for me. The 7 has more AF points than anything out there, both PDAF and CDAF, that covers 90% of the sensor. Both offer silent shutter operation. No mention of in camera HDR but has enhanced focus peaking to improve focus stacking. I do not believe either offer in camera focus stacking or focus bracketing. If Nikon follows Olympus and offers a high resolution feature (move sensor in 4 axis to double pixel count from 20 to 40 mpxl) that would give the option of a 100 mpxl image! This could happen with a firmware update and can only be offered with IBIS.

Neither MFR offers more than 9 FPS sequential shooting or a fully articulated LCD. Neither comes close to the compact size of 4/3 systems for obvious reasons but Nikon seems to have an edge in size. Both offerings are geared to Pros and priced accordingly.

Olympus has put to rest the rumor that they will offer a FF camera. Whatever they will offer will be introduced in January '19 and only comments are a new larger sensor for 4/3 lenses. However those FF lens patents may come in handy for the Panasonic offering. Just speculation on my part but Sony, Panasonic and Oly have at least a handshake agreement on technology development.

Hats off to Nikon, but Cannon is still playing catch up. My opinion and all this is subject to update as the product actually becomes available.

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. They are ALL playing catch up to Sony and in my humble opinion

they are not half way there yet. Lots of things wrong with both Canon and Nikon offerings. And if you think Nikon "got it right", you haven't been watching the save reviews I have.
Sony is THE LEADER in mirrorless and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

*I have been a professional photog since 1990 and have been in Nikon and Canon's camp for years. I switched 4 years ago and will never look back.

[flamin lib]

5. Well, considering that both are just now abandoning technology developed

in the early 1950s Nikon came closer to taking advantage of a completly new system launch than Cannon did. Both are still far behind the technology curve tho Cannon is doing some interesting things with wireless interface.

I'm with ya on Sony FF. Those who know me know that I bleed Olympus blue but Oly and Sony did a lot of collaboration in sensors and IBIS. Real breakthrough stuff.

I don't need a FF system. When I got out of college my kit was a 4x5 view camera, an RB67 and 2 OM bodies and lenses. I could use my tripod as an elevated observation platform. It filled my '65 Volkswagin. Today's crop frame cameras outperform 35 mm Kodachrome 64 and have filled that photographic nich. I have 30x40 prints from 4/3s 16 mpxl that look as good as some 2 1/4 film images. All that and I have two camera bodies, lenses from 14 to 600 mm, a flash and all the fiddly bits in a softcase that measures 13x8x8. I can shot HDR and 30 mpxl hi rez in camera.

So, yeah, Canikon is still old school technology but at least Nikon shows some potential.

[Ferrets are Cool]

8. The biggest failing of the Nikon is the focusing system.

It is really, really bad. They should NOT have released this camera with a focusing system this bad.

[alfredo]

2. Canon never fails to disappoint me one way or another

They make fine cameras, but seem too conservative. I want to be thrilled.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Canon is rarely first, but they make the most solid and complete systems.

Often one or another manufacturer has a better camera than Canon in one area or another.

But Canon makes so many models of cameras that other manufacturers don't have that breadth and depth.

Canon systems rarely are the first with one advance or another. But when they adopt an advance, they do it in a very well thought out way that stands the test of time.

The Canon EOS/EF system introduced in 1987 was not the first with autofocus or electronic exposure. But it had the best incorporation of electronics. The lens mount design and the lens communication was solid. Look at the gyrations that Nikon had to go through for decades, contorting itself with external mechanical linkages, other kinds of adaptations, and a list of 237 incompatibilities between lenses and bodies depending on which decade one or the other was made in.

In 1987, Canon made a big jump into the future with a lens connection to the camera body that has proven to have had tremendous foresight. The right amount of change at the right time in the right way. It has paid off handsomely for Canon.

And Canon optics are superb.

[alfredo]

9. I guess they have their loyal base and don't want to

Risk that relationship.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. "Cannon" at least 4 times. Do you really hate Canon that much? Wow. . . . nt

[flamin lib]

6. No, I just can't spell and the spell checker didn't catch it. My bad.

[flamin lib]

7. No, I don't hate Canon. ( got it right that time)

Canon occupies the largest segment of the photo market. They have since at least the 1970s. As such they have very little incentive to take risks. Nikon comes in second and has had a loyal professional following until recent circumstances cast doubt on that reputation. Nikon is striving to correct some service issues to good effect .

As such both have tended to rest on laurels and count on brand loyalty to maintain that market share. Face it, it's hard to dump a system when there's so much money invested in it.

Most of the innovation has come from tertiary manufacturers. Sony, Fuji, Panasonic and others have made major breakthroughs in features and functionality. Both Canon and Nikon have toyed with mirrorless cameras but not seriously. The growth in the mirrorles segment has finally convinced them both to make a major investment in new systems.

The fact that Canon's entry is so tepid and grudging is indicative of a comfort level that is dangerouus. They didn't even bother trying to copy popular features from competitors.

Honestly none of the camera manufacturer's parent companies really care about the photo market. It's a diminishing ROI when other market segments are so much more profitable-medical, scientific and office equipment - make up the bulk of profits.

As the photo market diminishes Canon's feeble offering may be an early indication that the company isn't interested in investing in that segment.

It's all $$.