Canon's Retro EOS RE-1: What to Expect Later This Year

[juststeve]

I guess I am old enough to define retro as AE-1 et al, the earlier FT and FTn (one of which I own still) and the still earlier R (I believe) SLR lenses of the 50's and early 60's. To me those M cameras and lenses are new fangled electron pushers hardly fit to be called a camera. Aside: I own an original M, M-5, and M-6ii along with a CPS supplied sling bag holding half a dozen lenses, none of which are silver. I do not consider M class cameras to be of retro class.

M cameras: Cute, yes. Useful, yes. Handy, yes. Retro, no.

 

[Old Man FL/FD]

I guess I am old enough to define retro as AE-1 et al, the earlier FT and FTn (one of which I own still) and the still earlier R (I believe) SLR lenses of the 50's and early 60's.

That makes two of us old timers around - but ya got me beat I believe.

That's my FTb pentaprism in my profile avatar photo.

 

[neuroanatomist]

I guess I am old enough to define retro as AE-1 et al, the earlier FT and FTn (one of which I own still) and the still earlier R (I believe) SLR lenses of the 50's and early 60's. To me those M cameras and lenses are new fangled electron pushers hardly fit to be called a camera. Aside: I own an original M, M-5, and M-6ii along with a CPS supplied sling bag holding half a dozen lenses, none of which are silver. I do not consider M class cameras to be of retro class.

M cameras: Cute, yes. Useful, yes. Handy, yes. Retro, no.

Again, not the point. Too literal. Abstraction isn’t in everyone’s wheelhouse. No, I’m not suggesting you have a house for your wheels.

 

[juststeve]

Ah, you Picasso-ed out, Neuro. Too late for abstraction. Old Man FL/FD has you beat for a meaningful reply.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Your failure to perceive the meaning doesn’t obviate it. Nor does your (hopefully deliberate, but I wonder) misapprehension of the use of ‘asbtraction’. I suppose those for whom retro is more like contemporary could find abstraction problematic, the artistic variety potentially notwithstanding.

Maybe I should use smaller words?

Here: Canon has shown they care about aesthetics, so if they launch a retro-style camera, no doubt they’ll launch a few lenses to match. Hope that wasn’t too confusing.

 

[juststeve]

Ooh geting nasty again, Neuro. Figured you would. Some of us are here to have fun. Sometimes we are here hopingto learn something good about photography which will help us improve. And then some of us are here just to get their narcissist jollies off.

 

[juststeve]

And to Old Man FL/FD by FTb is a panda. I bought it for my dad and inherited it when he died. I still have it. Still take it out. Need to put some film in one of these days.

 

[LSXPhotog]

This is a good market for Canon to enter.
The Nikon Zf is a fabulous camera. I own 2 of them and only shoot them with Voitglander MF glass. They can give the eye detection green focus square with MF lenses, something no other camera manufacturer can do (yes, you Leica) and make shooting F1.0 lenses a breeze.
Compared to a Leica M system (which I've owned), it is on par, with better sensor, better low light capabilities, better focusing aids and it doesn't cost as much as a Toyota.

I thought that those same Voigtlander lenses - along with the new Zeiss Otis, all have this feature as well as the focus guide. I’ve seen videos demonstrating it, but I’ve never personally used it. They have to have the RF electrical contacts for them to work.

 

[JKT]

I'll buy one only if it is FF and comes with a Canon made FD adapter.

... with aperture control.

 

[photophil]

My analog OM-1 scratches the itch for retro aesthetics, but I am still curious to see what Canon will come up with.
If the body does match the AE this would be the smallest R camera with IBIS, I think?

 

[Bonich]

Whenever I want to go retro I adapt a FD-lens to my EOS R or R5: Best in class are the FD100mm 2.0, Angenieux 180mm 2.3 APO and the desaturated colors of the FD 50mm 1.4.

 

[Bonich]

... with aperture control.

The aperture control is on every FD lens straight from factory!

 

[scyrene]

I guess this could be said about most anything new and different. People laughed when it was said everyone would one day need a computer. The one in my hand is also a phone.

Not quite; I suppose I'm questioning the assertion that it's a no-brainer for Canon to enter this market. I detect a lot of wishful thinking here. Rivals have been targeting this niche for years, but not the market leader - to me that implies they either don't think it's actually as big a sector as people here are suggesting, or it conflicts with their overall strategy for some reason. Companies make mistakes of course, and perhaps there has been a recent shift, as some have said, or maybe they always meant to but are only now getting round to it. We'll see.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Ooh geting nasty again, Neuro. Figured you would. Some of us are here to have fun. Sometimes we are here hopingto learn something good about photography which will help us improve. And then some of us are here just to get their narcissist jollies off.

Being literal to the point of obtuseness doesn’t help anybody learn anything. If you grasped the initial point and decided to repeatedly argue about it anyway, that shows who is the narcissist. Hope you have a jolly day.

 

[cary]

I cannot stop believing this is just someone’s wishful thinking.
Hard to imagine Canon doing this. And too me seems like waste of resources. But I don't understand this retro thing in general either, so I might of course be totally wrong...

Blame it on Fujifilm... started with the X100V which took off with Gen Z on TikTok... was in short supply, fetched over $1k above its MSRP on the used market at one point... rinse, repeat with its successor the X100VI. Both are currently selling for several hundred above their MSRP in the used market. The hype with the X100 series has even spilled over to other long-discontinued Fuji retro bodies raising their prices in the used market.

I suspect Nikon and Canon are keenly aware of this development.

I currently own Nikon retro film bodies, Fuji retro mirrorless bodies, and a Canon R5 (owned several M and R bodies).

Even though I never owned the AE-1, I'd pre-order a Canon RE-1 (or whatever it's called) IF it does not weigh as much as the Nikon Zf and is released with one or two "matching" lenses.

 

[Bonich]

Yeah a retro camera is pointless without retro lenses. Canon has never been the brand to release alternate style bodies or lenses beyond simple recolours like the gold RP or the white 200D. I will be very surprised if they make an FD-style 28mm or 50mm lens to complement the camera, and even more impressed if they give it a physical aperture ring.

I think a cheaper fixed lens Canonet QL17 III-style APS-C compact with a built-in flash would have much broader appeal, and they wouldn't need to support it with its own lens line.

The field of full manual lenses with aperture ring is fully open for 3rd party!
As a starter take the Voigtländer Nokton 40mm 1.2, you will love it!

 

[Bonich]

I will take a retro EOS RE-1 as soon as there is the "data back panel" available which flashes the day of shooting straight on the film in the camera!

 

[MikeGalos]

This camera segment became popular with the "young folk" after the Fuji X100V went viral on TikTok at the end of 2022 (note the camera came out in 2020). Apparently the retro aesthetic is proving it can work its way up market with the popularity of the Sony A7C and Nikon Zf too.

Note that Nikon released the Df retro DSLR in 2013.

 

[thomas2279@hotmail.com]

Love or hate the idea, just let the ones that love it, love it. Like me

Gotta say I love the design and also the ZF ( got some very good features in it; Af and video is good as well ) - hope to pick up one later this year

 

[neuroanatomist]

Note that Nikon released the Df retro DSLR in 2013.

Was it commercially successful at that time?