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The debate around higher megapixels vs better features has been around since the introduction of digital cameras. During the analog era, ergonomics, build, lens and film quality, and so on were the main focus. However, with the invention of digital, the megapixel war began, with each camera company focusing on the next head-line grabbing sensor. But in recent years, cameras have reached a plateau, with newer mirrorless cameras being mere updates of their predecessor. An example is Canon’s EOS R1, their latest flagship, which did not achieve much success. Here’s why it’s good news that Canon won’t work on a higher megapixel variant of the same.
According to Canon Rumors, Canon officials have no longer considered making a higher resolution EOS R1 update. One of the reasons is that Canon will have to let go of other features, such as autofocus tracking at higher frame rates and ISO sensitivity. For resolution, Canon will focus on the R5 or R3 series.
However, this is good news because the EOS R5 II and the R1 have several problems of their own. The R5 II does not bring too many exciting features, while the R1 has its limitations. Canon has been in the industry for so long, yet 2024 was not really a great year for their full-frame series. It appears as if Canon does not think about where technology will head in the future, and they are only considering making devices that will work now. However, there are a few things Canon can certainly improve on that will help its photography users.
- Learning from the EOS R1, the company is still unable to focus perfectly on people of color, especially in low-light conditions. This is a challenge for any photographer who is photographing people from diverse backgrounds in sports, photojournalism, or weddings. If Nikon and, now, Sony have managed to achieve this, why is Canon still lagging behind in inclusivity?
- Sony introduced the global shutter in the a9 III, and the Leica SL3 introduced content authenticity and three resolution in one. Nikon first focused on people of color, and then Canon must also improve itself. While its dual image processors are a step in the right direction, Canon still has to do more to be where its competitors are. This may mean they delay their launch for a bit. But at least they will have more success.
- More streamlined user experience with customizable options will be great, which will allow photographers to get the best of the their gear. Even a more intuitive menu will add to this.
- Long-term support for flagship cameras is a must, including regular firmware updates that are useful to photographers. For instance, the R5 update had high resolution mode but it was only limited to JPEG at a time when other brands were giving RAW options.
- More options like Panasonic LUT for photographers allow users to have complete control over their images.
- More focus on photography-centric updates such as crop modes, multiple exposure in RAW, better battery life, live composite, or more buttons for better controls.
At this moment, a better megapixel is not the only thing that can help Canon, but rather a different outlook when it comes to creating cameras. Canon is still the market leader when it comes to sales, so if you have a new camera, which should have launched several years ago, you are only affecting your brand image. As the RF lineup is catering to hybrid more and more, photographers certainly feel more lost than before. Furthermore, we stand at a junction where these changes should have happened by now, but for some reason, Canon is stuck in the past. Maybe they don’t see the point in changing, or maybe they are just trying to stay afloat.
