Phototrend published a lengthy interview with Canon managers Go Tokura , Executive Vice President and Head of Imaging Division, Manabu Kato , Head of Imaging Business Operations (IBO) Division in charge of products, Yasuhiko Shiomi , Head of IBO Division in charge of development and Tetsushi Hibi , Head of IBO Division dedicated to optics. You can read the interview in full here, or check out the translated bullet points below:
- The Canon EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R1 have been selling well and have been back-ordered since launch
- Canon would like to apologize for the shortages
- They can’t talk sales numbers, but bother cameras have contributed greatly to Canon’s results
- The Canon EOS R1 is for mission-critical photography where the camera can’t fail and has significantly better AF than the EOS R3
- The Canon EOS R1 has greatly improved rolling shutter management, shutter speed, and electronic viewfinder
- The Canon EOS R5 Mark II is designed for great stills and video in a non-traditional way, while the EOS R1 is professional photography centric
- There are enough differences between the EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R1 for professional photographers to want the step up
- In the past, cameras and camcorders were very different, but with mirrorless cameras, they have become similar enough that many have replaced their video cameras so Canon needs lenses for them, which is why they released five RF hybrid lenses
- Smartphones are multi-use devices, so when users step up to a camera, they expect a multi-use device, which is also why the Z series of lenses exist
- VCM motors are different from USM and STM in that they are high torque so they can move heavy lenses, but it makes the lens a little larger and heavier
- Canon currently only lets third-party manufacturers release lenses for their APS-C cameras because they have goals of their own that Canon is closely monitoring to see how users respond
- There is a lot of demand for the RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM, and Canon didn’t develop it to keep people from wanting third-party lenses
- Canon has a L-series trinity of lenses that many can’t afford, so the RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM gives some access to that range
- Canon has about 50 RF lenses now, but there is still more to work on, and everything they do is to meet customer needs
- Even with the EF line, Canon wasn’t able to satisfy every customer’s needs, so there is a place for third parties even with Canon’s size
- Users want diversity and options
- APS-C is very important to Canon, and they are putting a lot of effort into the format
- The imaging industry is currently moving from 2D to 3D, so Canon sees potential there, but the market hasn’t expanded yet
- Canon alone can’t move to 3D, even if there is a need for high-quality content, because there is a need for good applications for 3D video editing and devices for consuming the content
- The flagship compact Canon PowerShot V1’s new 1.4 inch sensor was developed by Canon and outperforms a 1 inch type sensor, and it has a fan for long video recordings
- Canon is the first to use the 1.4 inch sensor
- The compact camera market has shrunk dramatically, and Canon mainly produces compact cameras for Japan now, but Canon thinks it will start to grow again soon
- Canon is aware of the demand for vintage looking cameras, but it is hard for them to do this since they are very focused on ergonomics and usability
- Canon is not ignoring the demand for vintage looking cameras, but they have to move carefully, so they are putting a lot of thought into how to uphold their standards
- The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z comes in white and black, because videographers do not like white lenses because they can cause reflections, but they both sold well
- The Canon EOS R1 has built-in upscalling and noise reduction but for other cameras Canon has the Digital Photo Professional (DPP) app
- Canon tests new technologies with the Digital Photo Professional (DPP) app and integrates them into cameras when they are proven and verified as viable
- Canon continues to develop hardware and software side by side with the philosophy that they want to capture as much data as they can with hardware before turning to software
- Canon is currently working on implementing C2PA for cameras like the EOS R5 Mark II, EOS R1, and more, which should be ready in 2025.
Follow Canonaddict on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube
Canon EOS R1: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Canon EOS R3: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Canon EOS R5 Mark II: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Canon EOS R6 Mark II: B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Canon 28-70mm f/2.8:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z:
B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama