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

[Old Man FL/FD]

Canon could come out with a special FD to RF lens adapter for use with its retro camera. This would be more than a passive extension tube.

I might be getting ahead of myself because I have never used existing FD/RF adapters. I believe when using the adapter, the FD lens aperture “stop down” lever must be in the “locked” position. The user then sets the lens aperture ring to wide open for focusing and then sets the lens aperture ring to what is desired for the particular exposure.

There is mechanical aperture ring setting information available. In the purely mechanical Canon FD lens mount cameras, this mechanical coupling of the lens aperture setting moves the “match needle” index for the internal exposure meter.

I am not familiar with the RF lens electrical interface, but it is conceivable that FD lens aperture mechanical position could be “read” in the adapter and converted to digital information for the RF mount camera.

Following on this idea, it is conceivable that, with a little more electromechanical engineering, full aperture metering and shutter priority AE exposure could be performed using this hypothetical adapter. Basically, this would be a redo of the Canon AE-1 (and subsequent) FD lens interface.

 

[EvilTed]

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.

It would be awesome if the new Zeiss Otus has this capability too. Maybe a little too large for the Zf though
I just got the new Voigtlander Nokton 28mm F1.5 for Nikon Z yesterday. Some say it's as good as the Leica Summilux 28mm F1.4 ASPH, which is one of Leica's best lenses. The Voigtlander 50mm F2 APO is amongst the best glass I've ever owned, including the Leica 50mm F2 APO.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Canon could come out with a special FD to RF lens adapter for use with its retro camera.

I’m fairly certain Canon would want people to buy new RF lenses, rather than adapting lenses for a long-deprecated mount. Might be something a 3rd party makes, though.

 

[Go Wild]

Ohhh Come on Canon, just release the Bloody Camera!! Waiting for that kind of body for so long! Just love the AE1 style!

 

[JKT]

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

As you well know, I mean the "A" position. I preferred that then and still would.

 

[another_mikey]

Possibly a nice travel body if it is smaller and lighter than the R5 I take now. Would miss the resolution loss a little, but might be worth the lighter weight. Would have to bring less lenses though too. Will be an interesting camera though in any case - glad to hear Canon finally about to enter this space.

 

[byjohnburns]

Will pair perfectly with Voigtlander's three RF offerings, as well as the new Zeiss Otus MF line. Can't wait!

 

[LDS]

I’m fairly certain Canon would want people to buy new RF lenses, rather than adapting lenses for a long-deprecated mount. Might be something a 3rd party makes, though.

It's RF lenses look out of place on a retro body.


It's I see no reason for a retro body but for playing with old lenses, and get the nostalgic, vintage feeling. It should be built-in in the product. Emulating old bad or decayed films is also less interesting to me.

 

[Del Paso]

An F1 New digital? Why not.
A primitive camera whose only advantage would be to look like a vintage one? Why should I buy it?
Buying a camera solely for its looks??? A camera is a tool, functionality and features are what matters.
I still like the design and use of some vintage cameras, like the Leicaflex SL, the Canon F1, the Nikon F2.
But fashion copies with low grade features? Not for me.

 

[MikeGalos]

Was it commercially successful at that time?

Enough to justify the Z fc in 2021 and the Z f in 2023. There are rumors of a ZfcII being announced later this year to replace the Z fc using the same basic internals of the Z50II.

Apparently the retro fashion was big in Japan for quite a while before it hit the rest of the world.

 

[GMCPhotographics]

Using an R8 as a tech base is a very smart move, I just hope Canon chooses a better EVF for it.

 

[neuroanatomist]

It's RF lenses look out of place on a retro body.

Exactly. You already have an RF standard zoom, for example, but it looks weird on yiir retro body. So you buy a new, retro-styled RF standard zoom to match the body. That makes Canon happy.

 

[john1970]

Personally, these retro cameras do not appeal to me. I much prefer modern ergonomics and features. To each their own.

 

[jam05]

If it's such an obvious/lucrative market, why haven't they done this before? Genuine question, maybe I'm missing something.

Because Fujifilm and the present generation has proven that it isnt a quickly fading fad. Film, retro, and analog devices are selling well.

 

[jam05]

Who says videographers don't like stylish nice cameras and things? Videographers are not monolithic. A purely speculative assesment of the consumer.

 

[jam05]

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.

Wow

 

[LDS]

you buy a new, retro-styled RF standard zoom to match the body. That makes Canon happy.

Sure - but the question is, but the lens that comes with the camera - if any - how many "retro lens" is Canon willingly to make? Maybe the average buyer of such camera doesn't need many lenses (or maybe it could be just a second body to have some fun sometimes), but this camera could also be the right one to have fun with some old lenses, especially if it is small enough, even if the RF flange diameter is quite large, and can also boost a little sales of the camera itself.

 

[Askeladden]

Wouldn't mind one, preferably with a higher megapickles sensor and an official FD adapter that is aesthetically pleasing. Perhaps some built in FD lens profiles as well.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Sure - but the question is, but the lens that comes with the camera - if any - how many "retro lens" is Canon willingly to make? Maybe the average buyer of such camera doesn't need many lenses (or maybe it could be just a second body to have some fun sometimes), but this camera could also be the right one to have fun with some old lenses, especially if it is small enough, even if the RF flange diameter is quite large, and can also boost a little sales of the camera itself.

I suspect Canon has the relevant demographic data. My guess is that the number of photographers wanting to buy a new body to ‘have fun with some old lenses’ is not significant.

 

[EvilTed]

I suspect Canon has the relevant demographic data. My guess is that the number of photographers wanting to buy a new body to ‘have fun with some old lenses’ is not significant.

I disagree. There is a large market for this - just check for Nikon Zf threads with adapted glass.