Canon is ‘actively’ thinking of bringing the APS-C sensor to the EOS R system

Camera maker rumored to be conducting market research

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Reports ofCanon developing an APS-C format EOS R camerahave been around since October 2020. At the time, it was speculated that this new type of camera would arrive towards the end of 2021.

While that’s likely not going to happen, reports of aCanonAPS-C RF mount camera are rife, with the oft-reliableCanon Rumorsnow suggesting that the Japanese camera maker has “actively been doing market research […] to see if there’s a real demand for such a camera”.

We’ve alreadyheard of three crop sensor EOS R camerassupposedly in the pipeline – namely theEOS R7, R8 and R9 – that could replace not only theCanon EOS 7Dseries of DSLRs but also Canon’s M-series APS-C mirrorless cameras.

Interestingly, though, the new report suggests Canon has no plans to make RF-S lenses, meaning the company isn’t looking at redesigning the RF mount and such a crop sensor camera, if produced, will use existing RF lenses or EF lenses via a lens adaptor.

Should Canon make an APS-C EOS R camera?

Nikon has already gone and done it – there are now two APS-C format Z-series cameras in theZ50and the newly-announcedNikon Z fc. But what’s stopping Canon?

So far, the company has kept its two mirrorless lines – EOS M and EOS R – separate, putting in far more resources in perfecting its full-frame mirrorless line-up. If Canon does decide to go down the crop sensor mirrorless pathway, there’s a very high chance of the EOS M line being dropped altogether.

In fact, we can even speculate that Canon is already considering doing just that since the last camera to be added to the range – theCanon EOS M50 Mark II– was a disappointing upgrade from the first-genEOS M50. And it makes a lot of sense for Canon to be concentrating on its full-frame mirrorless system if it’s to produceaffordable versionsof theEOS RandEOS RP, while also adding to the RF lens line.

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Then there’s the competition fromSonyandFujifilmto consider. Both camera makers have done very well with their APS-C format A-series and X-series cameras respectively, with Canon’s M-series falling far behind either brand.

While it’s great to have high-specced cameras like the EOS R5, most camera systems are supported by sales of their lower-end models that are a lot more mainstream and accessible. And with DSLRs slowly fading away and no longer the moneymakers for either Canon or Nikon, it makes a whole lot of sense for Canon to consider going down the APS-C RF mount pathway.

While she’s happiest with a camera in her hand, Sharmishta’s main priority is being TechRadar’s APAC Managing Editor, looking after the day-to-day functioning of the Australian, New Zealand and Singapore editions of the site, steering everything from news and reviews to ecommerce content like deals and coupon codes. While she loves reviewing cameras and lenses when she can, she’s also an avid reader and has become quite the expert on ereaders and E Ink writing tablets, having appeared on Singaporean radio to talk about these underrated devices. Other than her duties at TechRadar, she’s also the Managing Editor of the Australian edition of Digital Camera World, and writes for Tom’s Guide and T3.

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