E88_8888 which is very good and accurate in bringing out the latest camera registration information from the wireless certification agency, posted a prediction for the EOS R1 Mark II, that it will use a Global shutter sensor.. the prediction looks logical to me, and that why I have decided to publish. As global shutters are now being used by Sony in their professional A9 III camera which is made for sports and wildlife shooters, and Canon has a history of sensor innovation. But, the current Canon R1, launched in 2024, lacks a true global shutter, suggesting this could be a natural upgrade.
By comparing the information before and after the interview, EOS R3 was originally a product of manufacturing dissatisfaction with EOS R1 and turning to test all new functions.
EOS R3 has been well received by the professional market, but it has defined the product style of EOS R1: professional control, balancing the triangle of resolution, high sensitivity, and readout speed.
I personally predict that Canon’s next flagship EOS R1 II will focus on its own semiconductors and develop a global shutter with stacked voltage memory.
This solution is mature and reliable, and in line with Canon’s tone.
Canon R1 Flasghip is slow in front of the Sony A9 III camera
Since Sony now has the Global shutter sensor in their fastest camera and as we all know Canon isn’t into the Megapixel race, the nearest true competitor of Canon’s fastest flagship Canon R1 camera with 24MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Sensor and Continuous Shooting Up to 40 fps at Maximum Resolution with AF/AE, and we have Sony A9 III with 24.6MP Full-Frame Global Shutter Sensor and the Sony offers Up to 120 fps at Maximum Resolution with AF/AE support.
Sony’s Competitive Edge
As you all know, Canon’s biggest competitor in the mirrorless domain right now is Sony, and Sony’s sensor research and development team is already using global shutter sensors in their Alpha A9 III. That makes Canon look weak in terms of being called a No.1 Camera brand, although they do have faster stack readout CMOS sensors in their flagship camera, they are completely lagging behind the competition when compared to Sony’s sensor A9 III technology.
Canon’s Focus on the R1 – Speed over Resolution
As we all know, in a recent interview, Canon Chief Tokura clearly stated that they are focusing on the high-speed Canon R1 camera only, and there will be no other variant of the flagship camera that will have a higher resolution. If someone wishes to have a higher-resolution sensor, then the best option is to go for the Canon R5 series.
“We consider the flagship to be at the pinnacle of our lineup, which means we’re not going to have two flagship models,” Tokura told PetaPixel. “We’ve put everything—the best performance and trust—into the EOS R1.”
So if Speed is a priority, then they have reached the max physical limits of the stacked CMOS sensor in the R1, and if they don’t migrate then after the announcement of the Sony A9 IV with 2nd generation of global shutter sensor in the next 2-3 years their Flagship will become completely obsolete in terms of technology. – thenewcamera
Again, global shutter sensors are not new to Canon. They had already introduced the EOS C700 GS camera back in 2016, but the price was $40,000. So, of course, the camera was not accessible to everyone, but what I want to say is that global shutter sensors are not new to Canon, and they developed working models of the global shutter sensors back in 2016. Also, take a look at the list of patents related to Canon Global Shutter and High-End Sensors
List of Canon Global Shutter and High-End Sensors:
| Patent Number | Title | Publication Date | Filing Date | Relevance to Global Shutter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10659706B2 | Photoelectric conversion device and imaging system | May 19, 2020 | April 17, 2018 | Explicitly mentions global electronic shutter function |
| US20180233523A1 | Solid-state imaging device and camera | August 16, 2018 | February 13, 2018 | A stacked sensor design likely enables a global shutter |
| US20180234605A1 | Imaging element and imaging apparatus | August 16, 2018 | February 13, 2018 | Exposure control supports a high-speed global shutter |
Announced Canon Global Shutter sensors:
| Sensor Model | Type | Resolution | Readout | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LI5030SAI | Color/Near-Infrared | 19MP | 12-bit, 57.99 fps | Industrial, high-speed |
| LI5030SAN | No Microlens/Filter | 19MP | 12-bit, 57.99 fps | Industrial, high-speed |
So, if Canon wants to introduce a global shutter full-frame CMOS sensor in its R1 series camera, it can do so since it already has the technological backing.
More Cameras with Global Shutter Sensors in the Next 3 to 4 Years
Nikon also got access to global sensors when they acquired RED and RED, of course, has a very close relationship with Tower Jazz, (Partnership with TowerJazz: RED partnered with TowerJazz for their cameras’ 20-megapixel global shutter Super 35mm sensors, ) which is one of the leading suppliers of global shutter sensors to RED’s camera system.
Additionally, Nikon also has a very good relationship with Sony’s imaging division. The sensor manufacturing unit and the imaging division are completely different from Sony’s Alpha division. So, if they wish to acquire the Alpha A1 sensor for their future Z9 II model, they can get it since they already have access to many Sony sensors.
As you can see where the competition is heading, in the next 4 to 5 years, camera makers will have multiple global shutter models in the flagship zone, and if Canon fails to do so, they will surely lag behind the competition.
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source E88_8888
