Canon concept cameras and limited-edition silver EOS RP Canon has been working on a small range of concept cameras for a little whil...
Canon concept cameras and limited-edition silver EOS RP
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Canon has been working on a small range of concept cameras for a little while now, and following last year's display of various mockups, this year the company has been demonstrating some working models, which may or may not be developed into real, shipping cameras.
First up is a digital camera designed for kids. This is a non-working example, but it's easy to grasp the basic idea. It's a colorful, simple camera with a tunnel-type optical viewfinder and simplified controls.
Canon concept cameras and limited-edition silver EOS RP
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Rather than conventional exposure modes and complicated controls, Canon envisions kids interacting with the camera via 'missions', designed to help them created images based around simple themes, like emojis, colors, or (cat?) feelings. We're showing the pink version here, but the camera might be available in several different color variations.
'Smart' camera
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Next up is a 'smart' camera, designed to automatically select and focus on subjects without any user interaction. This particular model is a working camera, set up on Canon's booth. The housing is motorized, allowing the lens to be directed up and down, and around in any direction, through 360 degrees.
'Smart' camera
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As I was setting up my camera to grab a shot, it locked on to my face. Which I must admit was a bit disconcerting. Does anyone remember the Kodak Party Shot? This is a similar kind of thing, except it can capture video, and it actually works. I don't know who the lady is at lower-left, by the way, but I hope she's not driving.
Telephoto camera
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This is a working prototype of a lightweight telephoto zoom camera, which in its current form allows the users to switch between a 100 and 400mm equivalent field of view, at the press of a button.
Telephoto camera
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Perhaps intended to provide a means of capturing the action from the stands of a sports stadium or concert arena, we're told that the simple 100/400mm toggle is provisional - Canon is working on a stepless zoom to allow for the use of intermediate focal lengths.
Telephoto camera
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Canon is also working on miniaturizing the concept, and although these are just mockups, we're told that they're closer to the ideal size of the camera, if it ends up being developed for commercial release. Notice what looks like an Apple Lightning connector on the pink mockup, reminiscent of the short-lived DxO One.
Outdoor action camera
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Finally, here's a concept for a colorful outdoor action camera, based around a fixed wideangle lens. The square cutout is both a simple framing device, and (as shown here) a means of hanging the camera from, or attaching it to things. The flat panel on the front of the camera is removable, and held on by a magnet.
Outdoor action camera
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Canon is showing off a range of representative swappable panels, which might be swapped in for quick customization.
Outdoor action camera
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A simple control dial allows the camera to be switched between modes.
Gold EOS RP
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Next up is the very real, very working, and definitely shipping limited edition gold EOS RP. Sadly this color variant will only be available in limited numbers, in Japan. We say 'sadly' because it's actually quite handsome.
Gold EOS RP
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And in fact, strictly speaking it's more of a champagne finish. If you remember the old film-era EOS 50 / Elan II it's rather similar, with the control dials picked out against the warmer body finish in bright, neutral silver. Sadly if you want one, you'll probably need to fly to Japan to get it - and be quick, because there are only 5,000 in existence.
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