Canon Interview: EOS R1 is the true flagship

[Omn]

Yes, as pointed out above the R1 was not postponed, it was right on schedule...and Canon said the R3 was not the flagship.

Okay, makes sense, so the issues some people are having with the term "flagship" seem like imagining issues out of nothing.

So far as I've seen the dissatisfaction from the announcements mostly seems to be coming from wanting/expecting:

- All the best cherrypicked specs in one camera which is unrealistic
- Basically R5 in R1 camera body, which makes sense but stretching Canon's product differentiation policy
- R1 specs in more compact camera body, which makes sense but you give up on internal cooling & power architecture

 

[Omn]

The question you haven't answered, but neither has anybody, is
"What criteria does Canon use to differentiate which cameras are called Flagship and given the '1' naming and which cameras are not?"

Since by Canon's own words the R3 did not meet those unstated criteria and the R1 did there must be at least one criterion that is met by the R1 and not by the R3.

I'd say it relates to the combination of best image quality and features/ shooting performance.

R1 - top EVF, top AF, top speed, top durability
We have yet to see full image performance but logic suggests worthy sucessor to 1DXmk3.

Having them on the same cycle means that, by introducing the R1 as this cycle's 1-series body, Canon is stating that the R1 is not an additional 1-series that adds to the 1-series choices but is the replacement for the 1 D X Mark III

Yes, logical conclusion is that R1 is the sucessor to 1DX mk3.

: )

 

[MikeGalos]

We have no idea. You are presuming that the R1 was part of the same cycle as a 1-series DSLRs.
Maybe it was. Maybe it was on its own cycle since it is the first 1-level Mirrorless body.

Having them on the same cycle means that, by introducing the R1 as this cycle's 1-series body, Canon is stating that the R1 is not an additional 1-series that adds to the 1-series choices but is the replacement for the 1 D X Mark III and that the 1 D X Mark III is now an obsolete model not yet removed from the catalog.

As I said, maybe, maybe not.

Yes, logical conclusion is that R1 is the successor to 1DX mk3.

: )

Canon has never actually confirmed that they're ending DSLR production and that the EOS-1D X Mark III is now an obsolete body waiting for the warehouses to empty before it is removed from the product list.

Personally, I think it's pretty clear that it is, but that's just my stating a guess.

I will say typing EOS R1 is simpler than typing EOS-1D X Mark III when you want to be formal, so that alone is a benefit.
(Yes, that's tongue in cheek but I am amused at the little tweaks companies make in branding. Canon replaced the hyphen between EOS and the model with a space and swapped the letter number pair order so it is EOS R1 rather than EOS-1R. Nikon added a space when they went from D to Z so it was Z 9 rather than Z9.)

 

[Omn]

Canon has never actually confirmed that they're ending DSLR production and that the EOS-1D X Mark III is now an obsolete body waiting for the warehouses to empty before it is removed from the product list.

Personally, I think it's pretty clear that it is, but that's just my stating a guess.

I'd say they don't have to stress the obvious and you are adding some dramatic topping with obsolete/emptying warehouses/removal thing.

: )

I will say typing EOS R1 is simpler than typing EOS-1D X Mark III when you want to be formal, so that alone is a benefit.

Well yeah, progression with past naming convention to "1D X mk4 Turbo 2" some day would be excessive and proceeding to new naming convention moving on from DSLR makes sense and there is this:

"The "R" in EOS R comes from the first letter of "Reimagine optical excellence"

 

[candyman]

You are presuming that the R1 was part of the same cycle as a 1-series DSLRs.

Well, we have to wait for a R1 Mark II to get that confirmation.
However, all information indicates that it will continue the legacy of 1-series (and it's 4-year cycle)

"Introducing the Canon EOS R1, our flagship full-frame professional camera, designed for durable, fast-action photography and continuing the legacy of the EOS-1 Series." Source: Canon USA

"MELVILLE, N.Y., May 15, 2024 - Canon U.S.A., Inc. today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc. announced today that it is currently developing the EOS R1, a full-frame mirrorless camera, as the first flagship model for the EOS R SYSTEM...." Source: Canon USA

"Canon’s EOS 1-series legacy continues with the unveiling of the flagship EOS R1 camera. This high-performance, reliable, and weather-resistance camera is designed for professionals in the photojournalism, sports and wildlife fields." Source: Canon USA

 

[MikeGalos]

If we are going to be pedantic, and we clearly are, Canon has used one naming convention for their flagship cameras for over half a century.

That naming convention is "<system identifier>-1"
The system identifier designated lens and system accessory compatibility.

In 1971 the system identifier ws F so the flagship was F-1.

In 1987 the new, largely incompatible EOS system was introduced and the first flagship in that system was named EOS-1.Every EOS flagship since then including the transition from film to digital has been named EOS-1 usually with a variant or version design at or added but always EOS-1.

In 2018 the new, largely incompatible R system was introduced. The first flagship in that system should be named R-1.

F system flagship is named F-1
EOS system flagship is named EOS-1
R system flagship is named R-1

EOS R1 is not R-1

 

[MikeGalos]

If we are going to be pedantic, and we clearly are, Canon has used one naming convention for their flagship cameras for over half a century.

That naming convention is "<system identifier>-1"
The system identifier designated lens and system accessory compatibility.

In 1971 the system identifier ws F so the flagship was F-1.

In 1987 the new, largely incompatible EOS system was introduced and the first flagship in that system was named EOS-1.Every flagship since then including the transition from film to digital has been named EOS-1 usually with a variant or version design at or added but always EOS-1.

In 2018 the new, largely incompatible R system was introduced. The first flagship in that system should be named R-1.

F system flagship is named F-1
EOS system flagship is named EOS-1
R system flagship is named R-1

EOS R1 is not R-1

And, yes, for a while Canon had multiple systems and each had a flagship.

F system flagship was F-1
A system flagship was A-1
EOS system flagship was EOS-1

The R system flagship should be R-1 or Canon has abandoned the naming scheme and there is no way to identify what is or is not a flagship based only on the name.

 

[candyman]

The R system flagship should be R-1 or Canon has abandoned the naming scheme and there is no way to identify what is or is not a flagship based only on the name.

It seems that you only look at the characterization of the naming. It is the combination of the strategic product designation and the naming. Canon bases itself on series 1 and declares that R1 is the flagship. I have no idea whether it might bother you that Canon has not chosen R-1, but only Canon decides that.

 

[MikeGalos]

It seems that you only look at the characterization of the naming. It is the combination of the strategic product designation and the naming. Canon bases itself on series 1 and declares that R1 is the flagship. I have no idea whether it might bother you that Canon has not chosen R-1, but only Canon decides that.

Since the discussion was that the R1 was a flagship and the R3 wasn't because of their names it seems reasonable
.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Okay, makes sense, so the issues some people are having with the term "flagship" seem like imagining issues out of nothing.

^^ This.

 

[neuroanatomist]

I know I said I wouldn't, but the descent into absurdity is striking.

 

[Omn]

"Introducing the Canon EOS R1, our flagship full-frame professional camera, designed for durable, fast-action photography and continuing the legacy of the EOS-1 Series." Source: Canon USA

"MELVILLE, N.Y., May 15, 2024 - Canon U.S.A., Inc. today announced that its parent company, Canon Inc. announced today that it is currently developing the EOS R1, a full-frame mirrorless camera, as the first flagship model for the EOS R SYSTEM...." Source: Canon USA

"Canon’s EOS 1-series legacy continues with the unveiling of the flagship EOS R1 camera. This high-performance, reliable, and weather-resistance camera is designed for professionals in the photojournalism, sports and wildlife fields." Source: Canon USA

Hopefully any confusion on "flagship" terminology and product positioning is now cleared.
At least here.

 

[MikeGalos]

So you are saying the only meaning of Flagship is Canon marketing using the term?

 

[Omn]

So you are saying the only meaning of Flagship is Canon marketing using the term?

That question makes no sense.

Flagship is top of the line product and Canon's top of the line camera is R1. Simple as that.

There is no variants of meaning here.

Changing meaning is what some gear preachers attempt doing to their own liking, dragging the herd with them into a dissociated state of arrogant stupidity.

 

[CJaurelius]

That question makes no sense.

Flagship is top of the line product and Canon's top of the line camera is R1. Simple as that.

There is no variants of meaning here.

Changing meaning is what some gear preachers attempt doing to their own liking, dragging the herd with them into a dissociated state of arrogant stupidity.

The issue for many is that they see the R5mii as their top of the line camera. If you look at the flagship for NIkon or Sony and said which Canon competes against those cameras it would be the R5mii. The R1 competes against the Sony A9III again not Sony's flagship.

If you took the R5mii and put it in the R1 body and called it a flagship pretty much everyone would be on board. Then then current R1 would be the R3mii which would've competed against the Sony A9III. Problem solved.

The issue is that Canon, and many of the its older users are stuck in the past. While the history of Canon may see the 24MP R1 as the flagship, the current market has moved on.

 

[neuroanatomist]

The issue for many is that they see the R5mii as their top of the line camera.

Many people see the earth as flat. It doesn’t make them correct.

…the current market has moved on.

Come back when Canon no longer dominates the market. Until then, the issue is yours, not Canon’s.

 

[Sporgon]

This is a flagship

 

[Omn]

The issue for many is that they see the R5mii as their top of the line camera.

Yes, that's understandable.

The issue comes from a combination of innacurate logic and wishful thinking and when psyche surfing on this combo drifts from reality and gets to face reality it gets unhappy with the offset outside kindergarten for which the ego tends to blame someone else.

In reality R1 is a top of the line camera.

If you took the R5mii and put it in the R1 body and called it a flagship

That would be irrational since R1 is superior in most aspects to R5II, and top of the line product.
I.e. flagship.

Then then current R1 would be the R3mii which would've competed against the Sony A9III. Problem solved.

Problem in the heads cannot be solved by this. It would manifest in some other circus later. Problem is solvable by rational thought process.

The issue is that Canon, and many of the its older users are stuck in the past.

No, the issue isn't "that Canon" anything. And no, Canon is not stuck in the past.

The issue is in irrational thought process which grows on ignorance, is fertilised by propaganda and fueled by narcissism.

While the history of Canon may see the 24MP R1 as the flagship, the current market has moved on.

Zero sense.

Canon has high megapixel cameras and top of the line, large pixel R1 for best performance/image quality combo.

The fact that many perceive higher pixel count/smaller pixel cameras as superior, conditioned by propaganda BS, is something else.

 

[neuroanatomist]

This is a flagshipView attachment 219484

No, it's not. It has Cannons, but those Cannons don't have enough megapixels.

 

[Sporgon]

No, it's not. It has Cannons, but those Cannons don't have enough megapixels.

True, but also those Cannons would only focus on a subject of French origin ! (With apologies to @Del Paso) ;-)