Rumor: 100MP Canon EOS R With IBIS on the Horizon

Rumor: 100MP Canon EOS R With IBIS on the Horizon

A 100 MP Canon mirrorless body with IBIS would be the first stabilized sensor of this kind of resolution in a standard-sized body. If true, it could rewrite the playbook on ultra-high-megapixel cameras and could pose a serious problem for the medium format industry.

Canon Rumors reported a note from Northlight Images about the possibility of an extraordinarily high-resolution mirrorless EOS R body from Canon. Just as the latest 50-megapixel bodies closed the gap between DSLRs and bulkier and pricier medium format cameras, a 100 MP EOS R camera would begin to touch the latest high-megapixel Hasselblad and Phase One resolution limit.

Of course, Phase One recently released the 150 MP IQ4 system, and Hasselblad can't be far behind. Add to this that the 100 MP EOS R isn't rumored to be released until at least 2020 and the fact that you're still talking less surface area on that chip, and it's clear Hasselblad and Phase One will still have the edge for a long time (although they will soon be joined by Fujifilm with its own 100 MP medium format option coming mid-2019). But to have in-body image stabilization would be a huge win for high-megapixel lovers, as those pixels need to be protected as much as possible from any kind of camera shake. Not to mention, you'd get all the other features that come with a smaller mirrorless body, including everything from portability to a bit more than just a single focus point.

I am very ready for this. Are you?

Adam Ottke's picture

Adam works mostly across California on all things photography and art. He can be found at the best local coffee shops, at home scanning film in for hours, or out and about shooting his next assignment. Want to talk about gear? Want to work on a project together? Have an idea for Fstoppers? Get in touch! And, check out FilmObjektiv.org film rentals!

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61 Comments

definitely intrigued

Interesting.

100mp, ibis, tilty flippy screen....1080p @ 60fps, no 4k over hdmi

Interested, hopefully they announce specs and release date next month at CP+. I’m looking to upgrade from the 5dsr but looking for more than just more megapixels. I’m ok with 50, wouldn’t say no to more but would like a couple more fps, two CFast cards and good AF-C with silent burst shooting mode. Is that to much to ask for?

Ha. Probably is a bit much to ask for ;-) Of course, I imagine they'll have lower fps for 100 MP. But that's the other thing...I don't know why it's so technically impossible to add 50% resolution image capture at a higher frame rate for these things. I understand the camera still has to grab those pixels and dump a bunch of them at a faster rate, but you'd think it could do a short burst if they just had a killer, super fast buffer in there, which more of these cameras need to have anyway these days. Would be nice to have 100 MP at 3-5 fps, 50 MP at 5-7 fps, and 25 MP at 10+fps all in one body. I'd pay good money for that if it had good AF to go along with it.

I would rather have more dynamic range on these sensors than megapixels. If the camera sensor was able to see more detail with less light, I would be very happy with that on the 35mm level. Shot a wedding a couple weeks ago and the low light situation exposed that my D800 is long in the tooth for what's available today. That got me thinking about getting a D850 for my outfit, but I love what the D750 sensor. With that said, The only reason to invest in more megapixels these days is for uncompromised detail and only the D850 is in the conversation with Medium Format, but it still is not close. The D850 only has speed on its side otherwise, modern MF bodies make any FF 35mm image obsolete.

I love the D750, too. But the D850 is hands-down the best camera of its kind on the market today (for stills). Will still beat the D750 in DR and general low-light capabilities, especially when you factor in the increased resolution. They've done a lot in these few years. But yes, the D800 is getting a bit old. The D810 was what the D800 always should have been. And now with the D850, they've really knocked it out of the park. Wondering if Canon can step it up to the next level if this all actually comes true.

Canon files look great too, but not as flexible as Nikon's. Canon would have to update their sensors but I think that Loyal Canon Users do not want that because they love the Canon look.

The D850 is amazing! I'm not sure how much latitude the files have, but the D750 as at least two EV in capture one. I am going to rent it eventually and find out for myself.

What size prints are people planning to make??

2mb Instagram post

I do 20x30 metal prints all the time and want as much detail as I can get. I also have a spot on my wall for a 48x60 whenever I get the right shot.

Endless cropping. Who needs a super telephoto when you have 100mp?😁

While the High-Resolution sensors are great to have for 35mm cameras, they will never match the quality of Medium Format sensors. Honestly, 50mp-75mp is about where I would cap the pixels for FF cameras because you only gain image size after 50mp. I will say that aside from a new sensor technical development, we have seen the best that 35mm currently has to offer in the megapixels race.

And you say this as an engineer who is developing sensors?

I say this as a print professional and commercial photographer at an agency that sees images every day. The difference between Medium Format files and 35mm files are night and day.

Right. So you DON'T actually know what you're talking about in regard to the ceiling on sensor capabilities.

Regardless, there are physics limitations with these sensors when they get so tightly packed with pixels. And it is true that a 100 MP 35mm sensor will have issues with diffraction at quite a low aperture. I can probably look up what it'd be, but this is certainly a legitimate concern. I'm sure there's a way to do it where it's still beneficial and amazing, but I can guarantee Canon's engineers (and everyone else's) are thinking about how to mitigate all that...

Of course there will always be physical limitations. Whether we are close to that point or not is something only engineers working in the field would probably know.

Regardless, I don't subscribe to this belief that Medium Format is somehow fundamentally different. It's just the same exact technology used in Full Frame sensors scaled up to a larger size. The benefit from Medium Format comes from the larger surface area of the sensor and subsequently less scaling required to hit whatever print size you're looking to print, not from some MF voodoo that results in better color fidelity or some other nonsense.

Sure, but it's hardly voodoo. Higher pixel count allows for greater scaling capabilities. Larger photo sites thanks to dividing the same number of pixels over a wider surface area allows for greater light sensitivity, DR, color, etc. And then there are physical limitations that make MF sensors sharper at certain apertures thanks to physics. And if you can have images at narrower apertures (and therefore greater depth of field) without effects of diffraction visibly kicking in, then you can have more of your image be sharp. So there are concrete benefits. But yes, no doubt these engineers have ways to improve these smaller sensors to be better and better. Still, physics will always play a role; and there won't ever be any voodoo to overcome that ;-)

That’ll be one low DLA.

16 bit color and dual card slots are on my Santa’s list. Higher mp hides luminosity masks when printed or even seen on screens. I’m looking forward to higher mp if only for that one reason.

I don’t Know about 100MP but it sure would awesome to see Canon rise to the top again. The company has survived Since 1940 and lost focus (pun intended) but it sounds like they are ready to get back in the game

one line in and already wrong. Fujifilm long since announced a 100mp GFX100 with IBIS for release and sale early this year. it was previewed at Photokina.

and 2+ years into a line of MF lenses.

I left out the part adding the important note, "in a standard-size body." Thanks for the reminder! But yes, looking forward to the Fuji, too. Should be interesting. But overall, hypothetically better and faster AF, better lens selection (eventually), etc., might make the Canon a more interesting proposition. It's all quite early to say, though (and of course, the bigger sensor will always have its advantages).

Nobody knows if this Canon camera will have a "standard size" body. GFX 100S is already announced with IBIS in a DSLR sized body including battery grip. Also all 7 Fuji GF lenses are designed to bring 100Mpx to the sensor. I don't think Canon have that much 100Mpx capable lenses at the moment.

100 MP is supposedly going to make headlines but any benefit to our erveryday photography is unlikely. Futhermore it will not overcome geometrical limitations of optics and sensor size as you correctly stated.

Basically remindes me of that 4K/8K vglogging camera hype to create footage that is watched with 480p.

Am I the only person who misses Canon's older method for AF focus selection? They used to use rotary dials for AF point selection which is way faster than the 4 way buttons they are using on the EOS R camera.

Huh?

The R leverages the LCD screen for AF Point selection when it detects your eye on the EVF. It’s one of the Rs great features. You drag your thumb and the AF point slides with it.

Have you actually ever used one?

If Canon can implement a higher resolution and better colour accuracy mode by implemening pixel shift by moving the sensor via the IBIS like Panasonic's new cameras, the medium format manufacturers will likely be worried.

That sounds good in theory, but it will not happen. If pro's want better color, MF is the way to go. The Pixel Shift method doesn't work without a tripod and the 35mm bodies are for speed. Medium Format manufacturers are not scared of 35mm at same resolution because there is no comparison in the image quality. The real disruption is Fujifilm making the bodies less expensive. Phase One making a deal with Fujifilm to support their MF files was a huge red flag.

Medium format manufacturers are not scared because the public perception of medium format comes from the film days where you had 6x7 negatives. Modern medium format sensors are barely larger than full frame.

Also, I've seen Foveon sensors produce better colors out of camera than most medium format systems and those are even smaller than full frame. Color rendition is a function of sensor technology, not sensor size.

In the end, a whether its a CCD, X-Trans, or Bayer, the medium format variants will behave just like the smaller ones except with the benefit of larger pixels.

"....I've seen Foveon sensors produce better colors out of camera than most medium format systems..."

Too bad the luminosity values are total shit.

"Color rendition is a function of sensor technology, not sensor size."

Color rendition is a function of the sensor/processor, but yes, not of sensor size. The color rendition of my M4/3 Olympus blows the doors off any Canon or Sony camera, never compared it to a MF camera tho.

Yeah... the crap thing about Foveon sensors is that you really need a controlled environment or at very least tons of light to get the most out of them. :(

"The Pixel Shift method doesn't work without a tripod"
No, it seems Olympus has found a way to make this work handheld.

I currently own a 5dIV and a 70D. And a bunch of L lenses and Sigma Art lenses. All together about 20k USD in Camera Gear for Canon, and thats not my main-job. I wont switch brand soon, but I couldnt justify to myself to buy the EOS R. I wanted to want this camera. But having a 5dIV, it didn't make sense to add this body.

A 100mp with IBIS, lets say around the 3,5k USD, I would be on board. It's not for low light or family-weekend-trips, that's for sure. But it would be a "nice-to-have"...

Good investment for a hobby or part time. My GAS syndrome finally got me into xt3 + gfx 50s combo.

I believe I am done with investing in camera, let's see.

Yep, GAS is a real problem. I can't figure out if I want to try the MP-e 65mm macro lens. And I don't rent lenses xD

xt3/GFX50s combo sounds very very nice indeed...:)

But what do they say? If I ever die my worst fear is that my wife sells my gear for the price I told her I paid...

I know there's always one annoying guy who says "two card slots" but for the love of god. Just make one camera that hits all the areas for a regular working pro who doesn't need huge files, but does need a kickass, versatile, tough camera in a small package. Just take the eos R, add IBIS, a card slot, eye focus, and video without an insane crop. These are possible things. Literally none of my clients want larger files. I don't even care about dynamic range with the current sensor. Just features that actually address the things that event, portrait, and wedding clients need.

I own two. I'd love to see something like that with the advantages of mirrorless.

A real “working pro” understands that modern SD cards have a failure rate that is so miniscule that’s it’s ridiculous and would care a lot more about things like IQ and dynamic range and all the other things that actually make a difference than they would about an issue that’s been manufactured by youtubers and people who need to have something to be outraged about on social media. Few have done more to perpetuate this artificial controversy than Fstoppers.

The UGLY truth is that even if Canon dropped a 100mp with IBIS, dual cards, full 4K with no cropping, flawless eye tracking, etc. etc. etc. There would be something that would be put up as the “critical flaw!!” that they could hyper focus on and have something to post about to keep their hit counts up.

You know, like dual card slots.

A real working pro would be paranoid about being sued or having their reputation irreparably tarnished over something so stupid as losing images to memory card corruption.

Shame! Disrepute! Ignominy! Financial RUIN!

Oh... the DRAMA.

I guess there was no professional photography in the days of FILM. Or before there was DLSRs with two slots. Which was relatively recently.

The list of technical difficulties that can hurt a professional photographer is long, and horrifying and a real pro is better served focusing on what’s actually meaningful.

If two card slots help you think you’re a pro... knock yourself out.

While you’re focusing on a non-issue, soccer parents with 6D’s will be stealing your gigs and diluting the market even more.

Back then you had no choice. Today you do. You'd be an idiot not to take advantage of the benefits that technology has afforded you.

People also shot sports with manual focus lenses a long time ago, too. Do you think any professional sports photographer should be using a manual focus lens to photograph an NFL game today?

Get real. 2 slots is about goingthre extra step to try to make sure that the images of a moment that you can't recreate are secure. It's about having respect for your craft and respect for your clients that you're doing the best you can to deliver what you promised. Any system can fail. We do our best to mitigate risk because the images that we take are important to the people we work for.

So keep being arrogant and flippant about it because you'd rather have the latest new toy rather than do what's best for the people who are paying you.

Honestly, if people weren't so sue-happy today, I'd agree with you. And no, it's not and shouldn't be that much of an issue. But in the film days, people weren't suing everyone back and forth. A missed cake cutting shot because something happened to that roll of film during processing wouldn't cause a lightbulb to go off in the bride's head saying, "Ooo, ooo, opportunity! I can get a whole new wedding paid for to reshoot this scene for $30,000 if I sue and become really upset!" And it's not always that calculated. Some people actually are THAT upset. So I understand photographers' concerns with liability. Honestly, I think the answer should be internal storage that's reasonable (64/128 GB) and super fast along with a single card slot. Boom. That should be doable in tight spaces and would solve the problem for everyone. And a bunch of people wouldn't even need a card, then.

The risk of my house catching on fire is miniscule, but I still carry insurance. Two card slots are completely within the range of technology, and since I shoot events that can never be duplicated, it's not far from malpractice to shoot on one card if I have the option.
EOS R has great IQ, and good enough DR if you shoot tight, which can be done. I'm just asking for a few obvious additions.

Just quickly: there are other reasons for having your files duplicated. You can keep a copy on your person and one in a bag, so theft or fire has less chance of taking images that haven't been backed up. If I'm on the road, I don't always have a quick backup option, and this is peace of mind. Corruption is one of many ways you can lose files.

In Mpixels the M is for Marketing, right?

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