topic Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon? in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

Uneternal — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 02:31:23 GMT

Ever since the Nikon Zf and Zfc came out, I'm a little jealous that Canon doesn't offer an alternative (yet). We've seen some attempts like the EOS M6 Mark II with silver housing or the RP Gold Edition, but all of them still looked very modern compared to what Nikon or Fuji offers.

Would you be looking forward to a retro-styled Canon camera, like say an AE-1 styled camera with upgraded EOS R10 or EOS R6II specs? Or do you not care for vintage at all and you're like "f that s, I want my rounded edges"? 😄

Here's my A.I. assisted mockup design:

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

shadowsports — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 03:23:13 GMT

Welcome back Uneternal.

I had an AE-1 from '77-'86. Great Camera.

If they do make a retro model, it will likely sell, but I'm sticking with ergo lines. I like my round edges now.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

Tronhard — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 05:01:57 GMT

I seem to recall some discussion on this before and absolutely, I would be interested in a camera with modern innards (like the R6II) and retro controls - i.e. like the Df, the digital controls are there too, if subtly. Absolutely - and to me it is more about the controls than just style...

When I started about 43 years ago, and at that time I was shooting with a combination of Nikon and Canon SLRs - the Nikon FM, Nikon F3 and Canon A-1: all brilliant cameras. I switched to digital around the turn of the turn of the century, but I still retain one of each body for old time's sake.. When the Nikon Df came out, it was about the time I retired, and the attraction was immediate and profound.

This camera took me back to the interface I had used when I started, yet offered many of the benefits of a top-end DSLR I love the brilliant low-light performance of the FF sensor from the D4, tweaked for further sensitivity.

When Tetsuro Goto created the Df, he was at the end of a stellar career with Nikon as the head and design leader of their excellent camera division. That Goto-san was also a highly-respected, award-winning photographer, who loved dedicated, manual focus, simple cameras speaks volumes about his work and design philosophy.

The creation of the Df was his swansong: harkening back to his earliest creations over 40 years before. It represented his chance to make a statement about his ethic, not only as a designer of an artistic tool, but as a member of Japanese culture.

Its design philosophy is one of measured and considered movement of tactile controls that offer up the chance to linger: where the process itself becomes an inherent part of the occasion: intrinsic to the art form we are engaged with, to be valued and cherished and certainly not bypassed. Like many things in Japanese culture, it encourages us to slow down, be in the moment, and take time to enjoy the act of creation.

I have three: one in silver, one in black with silver, and a rare, limited edition (Japan release only) black and gold unit as well. I shall never sell my Df cameras.

Given the realities of marketing cameras, just as Nikon latterly did with Zfc and Zf , I expect Canon will need to include the full functionality of controls one would expect in a contemporary camera, so I would be very happy to see something that looked like the A-1, which was itself a major ground-breaking camera.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

Princejvstin — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:42:10 GMT

I do find the retro movement interesting (there is also a "crappy camera challenge" on a couple of social media sites where people take pictures with old equipment.

Is this retro-nostalgia at work? I don't know...maybe. As Tronhard suggested, a camera that had the modern conveniences but looked like a A-1 would certainly draw my eye. Camera itself as object d'art. But the point for me is something to use and enjoy using.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

zakslm — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 16:41:45 GMT

I've thought about this before when Nikon introduced the Zf.

I loved my original AE-1, T70 and 10s but like others have stated, I love the ergonomics, technology and results I get from my DSLR.

Creating something that "looks like something else" would not necessarily entice me to buy it. But I might buy something that happened to look like something else if there are benefits and I felt those benefits would increase my enjoyment of my hobby and/or do things that my current camera cannot do.

As far as nostalgia is concerned, I'd love to see Canon put the "old" Canon logo on the prism/EVF a modern new camera as a subtle nod to the past. I think that would be cool.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

kriscowling — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 19:09:54 GMT

I’m a nostalgia buff and would be intrigued by the retro look but probably wouldn’t be enticed to buy, as I still have my AE-1 and my A-1. My sales receipt from November 8, 1977, shows that I paid $318.23 for my AE-1 with 50mm FD f/1.8 lens and a case. It seemed like a fortune at the time! The photo shop “threw in” a 20-exposure roll of unspecified film. 😉

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

Gentile — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 17:56:36 GMT

I saw the Nikon ZF and immediately searched if there was a Digital AE1, which led me to this thread... I hope Canon makes one...that Nikon looks nice and seriously contemplating of buying it.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

Ron888 — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 09:06:19 GMT

I wouldnt buy one but do admit it looks good.
Now if they were making a compact crop sensor R body similar to an M3 size,i'd be all over it! They already have several compact RF and RF-S lenses.It's a no brainer

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

LeeP — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:06:55 GMT

The Nikon Zf is a nice camera. The minute I saw it I wanted a retro Canon. Now that it is going to happen, the NANOSECOND I can order the "AE1" from B&H Photo, my order will be in. I don't need another R body, but I WANT it. No rational thought...I WANT it.

Tangent alert: I only wish Pentax would license the RF mount and do retro mirrorless cameras. I'm a diehard fan of metal-era Pentax film cameras and routinely shoot with four of them outside of my digital work. I jumped to Canon for EOS autofocus and have never looked back...but an RF mirrorless Pentax ME2...oh baby...I'd be there.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

LeeP — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:10:51 GMT

That $318.23 is equivalent to $1668.19 today or roughly the cost of an R8.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

justadude — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:13:25 GMT

I would buy one only if it had some advancements (nicer controls, compatible with new lenses, better mechanics)... but still only shot 35mm film. I would not want a digital version, but that's just me personally.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

justadude — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 23:21:34 GMT

Those can be fun! One of the cameras I own is a Kodak DC210 from 1998 which says "One Megapixel". No "s" at the end of megapixel because it really is just 1MP. Still works, still takes some surprisingly good images (but slightly pixelated when large). However if I want reasonable quality I have a Canon Powershot S1-IS from 2004 that is 3.2MP. One of the rare point & shoot Powershots from back then that had IS.

Bottom line, it's nice not shooting for a client, or not for my print sales, or anything like that - where instead of taking my time and doing it right, you can just have fun.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

Uneternal — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:04:09 GMT

Same for me. Now, there are already some rumors floating around that we might see such a camera in late 2025, and a senior Canon executive (Manabu Kano) also mentioned the AE-1 specifically as his camera of choice when it came to a retro model. Which would totally make sense, because the AE-1 has its 50-year anniversary next year in April and it would be absolutely dope to see a digital remake.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

LeeP — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:06:33 GMT

One of the interesting possibilities for the future comes from the Pentax Film Project. Because the Pentax 17 has been successful, another film camera is planned (3 more actually) and one is an SLR.

I wish I had never sold my Elan 7e, but I went digital and didn't think I needed it anymore. #Mistake.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

LeeP — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:12:07 GMT

The AE1 was a brilliant surgical strike for Canon to increase its market share at the expense of others. In the day I thought the AE1 was OK but I didn't want one. The A1, however was a devastating blast for other manufacturers and I want one to this day. It was truly a game-changing camera that caught Pentax, Nikon, and Olympus flat-footed, but Canon never rested and just kept innovating thus making me enough of a believer that I jumped to EOS.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

justadude — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:19:29 GMT

It's going to be interesting to see what they come up with... but I hope it's not another half frame one like the 17. I've never been a fan of half frame cameras, especially if I want to make large prints.

Not sure if I actually NEED another Pentax SLR though. Currently I use (quite often) 5 different Pentax SLRs... K1000, K1000 SE, Spotmatic, PZ-70, and a Sears KS Super ll (which is a Pentax body with the Sears name on it).

Serious question... if Pentax does come out with a nice Full Frame SLR, do you think my wife would notice if I have 28 cameras instead of 27?? 🙂

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

LeeP — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:29:22 GMT

The KS Super II isn't a Pentax. It's a Ricoh.

The Pentax 17 has an astoundingly good meter and a sharp lens. I'm not a fan of half-frame, but I bought one and use it regularly. Truly a great camera.

The supposed Pentax SLR will be full frame.

Pentax thinks DSLRs are the future because they are idiotic.

The way forward would be to license the RF mount, go mirrorless, and do retro styling.

The Canon R100 is a modern equivalent of the ME.

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

justadude — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:50:16 GMT

Pentax/Ricoh, it's all the same now. The part I needed for it 10 years ago came from Pentax which has been owned by Ricoh for a while now. The salesperson said the parts even back when this was made were pretty interchangeable between the two brands, even though they were two separate companies at the time. But yes, you are right that it was originally a Ricoh. My copy came with a Pentax 50mm f/2 lens (said Pentax on it). Maybe Sears had a shortage of the Ricoh lenses at the time?

Good news on the SLR... thanks for the heads up, Lee!

Personally, I like DSLRs. I still say my Pentax K10D has the best colors of any digital camera I have ever owned. Even after 6 years of using mostly mirrorless, I still think DSLRs have better viewfinders compared to the electronic viewfinder crap they use nowadays. Personal taste, I know. I like the balance of the heavier DSLR bodies as well, especially when using heavy lenses. Again, call me crazy, but personal taste. Might be idiotic, but I know I'm not alone on preferring them. Not knocking all of the improvements on modern mirrorless cameras though!

You lost me on the Canon R100 being the modern equivalent of the ME. I had the ME Super when it first came out (which I know was slightly more advanced). You spiked my curiosity. I'm really interested to hear what you are comparing. Wild guess would be entry level?

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

LeeP — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 19:42:03 GMT

"The salesperson said the parts even back when this was made were pretty interchangeable between the two brands..."

Pure nonsense. When they were separate companies, only the mount was shared

Re: Would you buy a retro-styled Canon?

TomRamsey — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 20:45:13 GMT

Retro cameras look nice, but it is the performance that draws me to a camera. The look of a camera takes a back seat to performance, price, lens availability for me. If all things were the same I would pick the retro over the modern if it looks better to me. So I guess you could say I'm indifferent. I do own two Pentax KP DSLRs which many consider somewhat retro looking, But it is their performance that sold me. The performance of the R6 Mark II sold me as it was the best in the price range I was willing to spend. Had their been a retro version with the same guts and price, that my be in my hands now, if I thought it looked better. You can never say for sure, because I've seen some older film SLRs that really didn't look that cool.