Images of the Canon EOS Ra appear – UPDATE

[padam]

This also means that the EOS R Mark II is probably farther away than what people expect.
It will probably change in more ways than a 5D Mark V compared to its predecessor, so it probably will not follow it immediately afterwards.

 

[Joules]

This also means that the EOS R Mark II is probably farther away than what people expect.

What makes you think so?

I believe this camera is designed for such a specific niche, it doesn't really tells us anything about what Canon intends to do with the rest of the market.

If anything, the opposite might be true. Maybe the next generation of mirrorless is not that far away and Canon wants to make good use of their old sensor platform while it lasts.

 

[Jethro]

This also means that the EOS R Mark II is probably farther away than what people expect.
It will probably change in more ways than a 5D Mark V compared to its predecessor, so it probably will not follow it immediately afterwards.

I'd expect it to come in parallel with a 5Dv - that seems to be the business model going forward, at least as long as they keep making DSLRs, and I suspect that will be for a good few years yet, at least at the FF level.

 

[Jethro]

I'm sure that there are 13 people who will be thrilled about this camera!

Nobody but Canon knows how many of the 60DA they sold, but they've had an astro specialist camera available for 15 years, and that would be because they can make money selling it. It's another example of Canon utilising existing tech to produce new products (with distinctive features) with minimal development costs. Its smart.

 

[Jethro]

Not that I would buy this, but the 30x magnification option (both in live-view and EVF) sounds awesome!

 

[sulla]

Is this drop in IR filter something that already exists or are you saying it would be logical to offer it that way? If that’s all you meant, then I totally agree.

Unfortunately such a product does not exist yet. It would only be logical for Canon to release one with the Ra camera. Unfortunately the Canon drop-in filters for the big whites, which readily accept any gelatin filter foils via a simple spring loaded frame gel holder, are not compatible with the EF-RF adapter, so those can't be used. The reason for this is that for the EF-RF adapter the adapter glass is part of the optical formula of the adapted lens and this piece of glass of a certain thickness therefore cannot be omitted (so there is the need for a clear glass filter and there is not just a blank cover of the drop-in slot, also the drop-in filter adaper is slightly longer than the other 2 adapters). Also, I am not aware of any third party drop-in filters for the EF-RF adapter yet.

Having said that, the clear filter can be removed from the drop-in holder, so to exchange that one with an IR-filtered glass is technically not difficult and comes down to getting a filter glass of the correct size or grinding an oversized piece of glass to shape.

 

[dolina]

Good on can

I'm sure that there are 13 people who will be thrilled about this camera!

That may be a reason why astro cameras get a new release every 7-8 years.

2005 - 20Da
2012 - 60Da
2019 - Ra

 

[jvillain]

If they can do this I can't imagine why they can't stick a crop sensor in an R body.

 

[Hector1970]

It is not required to go full out on astro gear to capture deep sky images. I got myself a Fornax Lightrack II portable tracking mount and use my Sigma 150-600mm lens, which is still a combination I could take out into the field when I want to escape the light pollution. I haven't done that yet, but I'm pleased with the results so far.

For less extreme focal lengths, a more inexpensive tracking mount like a Skywatcher Star Adventurer or something from iOptron are good choices as well. If you really want advice in a telescope, I'm not sure I would seek it in this forum. It's a pretty niche topic and I believe there are more fitting forums for it.

Thanks Joules. Yes its a pretty niche product . I have seen other forums that deal with these topics and there seems to be a general lack of ability to explain simply (while it is a complex subject - it can be explained).

 

[SteveC]

If they can do this I can't imagine why they can't stick a crop sensor in an R body.

Of course, they'd have to want to.

I'm sure there's no technical reason they couldn't do it (and I was sure of this before this news item came out). And they could announce such a thing tomorrow, but my suspicion is that they would rather that crop sensor people who want those RF lenses...move to an R like, full frame camera.

 

[sanj]

I'm sure that there are 13 people who will be thrilled about this camera!

They are photographers too and deserve to get the camera they want.

 

[HarryFilm]

I'm sure that there are 13 people who will be thrilled about this camera!

---

This camera is ALSO useful for Thermal Nightvision if you get glass that is PURE QUARTZ which lets Infrared through unobstructed. Just add a high powered IR continuous light or IR flashlamp and get some STUNNING nighvision shots. That means you would get MUCH BETTER and much higher resolution security or surveillance footage from the Ra camera than almost ANY other major camera system which tend to max out at 1920x1080 resolution for video and 2.7k for stills.

In fact, I do believe there is an Infrared (i.e. short IR and long wave IR) security and surveillance systems market in the MANY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS for such an Ra camera, especially if the image quality is going to be 10x to 25x better than that $150 security camera set you buy at Best Buy! Major industrial companies ALSO NEED high resolution, fast shutter speed IR cameras that can see industrial processes in the thermal emissions EM range and I would expect another 10,000 Ra cameras sold over the years just for that!

.
YUP! I do see a LOT of industrial and commercial uses for an IR-boosted version of the Ra camera with QUARTZ glass elements for FULL Infrared transmission! Add in some remote control software and live IR (or even UV) stills/video stream out and Canon could be RAKING IN THE DOUGH with the Ra !!!

.

 

[woodman411]

If they can do this I can't imagine why they can't stick a crop sensor in an R body.

Canon RP bodies are going for under $1000 on eBay now and will definitely be under $1000 retail for Black Friday. With the cost of FF entry this low, there is little reason to do this.

 

[Ozarker]

Canon RP bodies are going for under $1000 on eBay now and will definitely be under $1000 retail for Black Friday. With the cost of FF entry this low, there is little reason to do this.

Heck. They are $999 now at Adorama, including the $99 adapter. No sales tax. Free shipping.

 

[home_slice]

I couldn't wait any longer for Canon to release a new pro body suitable for a fulltime commercial / wedding photographer and had to pick up a 2nd 5D IV body. That means I probably won't be buying any R lenses for a few more years. It was a really bad move for Canon to leave the working pro with no good options to upgrade for so long. good for the astrophotographer but how many of them really needed this?

 

[TAF]

I would like to see a sample from an Astro camera taking regular shots. Just curious as the look. If it more or camera looking or something else.

I have not tried it, but my expectation would be that the image would lean slightly reddish, in as much as they are allowing more red light to hit the sensor.

Not excessively so, but perhaps more like Kodachrome (if you are old enough to remember that particular slide film) than Ektachrome (which is, in my opinion, what Canon digital tends to look most like).

My personal preference is toward the blues and greens (Ektachrome), which is probably why I prefer Canon over their competitors.

For someone whose preference runs toward the red end of the spectrum, this might be a very nice option.

 

[navastronia]

I couldn't wait any longer for Canon to release a new pro body suitable for a fulltime commercial / wedding photographer and had to pick up a 2nd 5D IV body. That means I probably won't be buying any R lenses for a few more years. It was a really bad move for Canon to leave the working pro with no good options to upgrade for so long. good for the astrophotographer but how many of them really needed this?

I'm waiting for everyone to pile on you about how new the RF ecosystem is and how the EOS R is a perfectly good camera, and those people make valid points, but I still feel your pain, wanting a mirrorless pro body that innovates or pushes boundaries.

That being said, I shot a wedding and an engagement with a pair of 5D classics last weekend (each of which I picked up used for $300 in the last year) and was perfectly happy. The pro R will be here eventually, though if I had to guess, the images it makes will be almost indistinguishable from those made with a 5DIV, which you already own.

 

[ethanz]

I see a post about this from the official Canon instagram. As well, the link from Adorama works again.

 

[Antono Refa]

I couldn't wait any longer for Canon to release a new pro body suitable for a fulltime commercial / wedding photographer and had to pick up a 2nd 5D IV body. That means I probably won't be buying any R lenses for a few more years. It was a really bad move for Canon to leave the working pro with no good options to upgrade for so long.

Camera sales have taken a nose dive, so Canon can't upgrade cameras as often. And as most photographers do like you, and buy a different camera from the same manufacturer, why rush?

good for the astrophotographer but how many of them really needed this?

It's a ROI / low hanging fruit thing. Cheap & easy to make, quick to make a profit.

 

[addola]

I see a post about this from the official Canon instagram. As well, the link from Adorama works again.

It's also on Canon's website!
I wanted to see if they kept that touchbar on the back from the EOS R, but the images don't show it.