- Teaser shows new camera ahead of May 13 launch
- The camera housing has a tally lamp and no viewfinder bulge
- Appears to be a larger variant of the EOS R50 V body shape
Canon has taken to social media to tease a brand new camera, and we won’t have long to wait, with an official reveal scheduled for May 13. Released across Canon’s social channels, the teaser 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 that promises an American audience.” / 9am EDT / 2pm BST / 11pm AEST reveal next Wednesday morning.
That message isn’t exactly subtle. Between the storytelling 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-centric, creator-focused device. The teaser also appears to end with two red triangles forming a “V” shape, suggesting that this new camera is set to join Canon’s existing lineup of “V” series models.
Look closely at the silhouette of the camera in the teaser and a few more details will emerge. There’s no viewfinder hump and a tally light is almost visible – two features associated with Canon’s video-first offering. Most intriguingly, the body appears to be noticeably larger than the current entry-level member of the V family.
That camera is the Canon EOS R50 V, which I reviewed for TechRadar last May. It’s a compact, APS-C sensor mirrorless model aimed squarely at entry-level content creators, priced at around $650 / £630 body only. Based on the silhouette in the teaser, what Canon is about to announce looks like a beefed-up version of the same design language — and “buffed” in camera terms often means a bigger 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 to be lightweight, easy to use and capable of producing great looking video and stills thanks to Canon’s reliably excellent color science. Its Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system is also class-leading for the price. But the APS-C sensor imposes some limitations – especially in low light, 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 background separation – both of which mean a lot to the YouTube-and-Instagram crowd this camera will presumably target. Done right, it could sit nicely above the R50 V in Canon’s lineup as a hopeful step-up for creators who’ve outgrown their entry-level gear but still want something accessible.
The big question is the price. If Canon can keep it truly affordable, it could make a serious dent in the full-frame vlogging market. A more premium price tag, however, and it will have stiff competition from Sony and Nikon – specifically the ZV-E1 and Zr – to contend with. We will find out next Wednesday.
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