When Canon announced the EOS R3 in 2021, it marked the company’s first professional-level mirrorless camera aimed at sports and news photographers. While not deemed Canon’s flagship model—a title still awaiting the upcoming EOS R1—the R3 brought innovative features like eye-controlled autofocus and 30fps continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking. However, with rival camera makers recently unveiling their own pro-oriented models boasting global shutters and other speed-driven capabilities, rumors are swirling of an EOS R3 Mark II that can compete on this front.
According to undisclosed but reputable sources, Canon does indeed plan to follow up the EOS R3 with a Mark II version at some point. This iterative update would differentiate itself from the upcoming EOS R1 flagship by focusing more heavily on fast-action capture for genres like sports, wildlife, and photojournalism. It is reasonable to speculate that Canon will equip the R3 II with a global shutter, allowing for distortion-free freeze-frame shots, as Sony did with its recently announced Alpha 9 III. A bump to an even quicker continuous burst rate also seems plausible.
Of course, the EOS R3 Mark II remains years down the road, with no reliable details on specs available this early. Any photographer considering the R3 today should not hesitate out of anticipation for its unconfirmed successor. The existing R3 already delivers class-leading speed, resolution and autofocus performance that make it a formidable camera for pro applications right now. Still, there is mounting evidence that Canon aims to push mirrorless capabilities even further in a future revision designed with speed as the top priority.
In closing, while tantalizing rumors abound of splicing global shutter and 40fps-plus shooting into an EOS R3 Mark II, nothing concrete is imminent. Canon shooters can enjoy state-of-the-art performance in the current model without buyer’s remorse. Meanwhile, the stage is being set for another high-end salvo targeting the title of world’s fastest mirrorless camera. As always though, it is wise to take early reports with a grain of salt, however reliable their origins.
via: CR