topic Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

livestreamer — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 10:49:47 GMT

5G is coming, and so is livestreaming.

Please can future versions of the EOS R include a SIM Card Slot so that the device can connect to a 5G mobile internet relayers, and stream uncompressed 4K with Stereo Audio.

Now *that* would be quite something.

No more cables, no more WiFi, no more BlackMagic, no more Sony.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

shadowsports — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 13:18:34 GMT

Greetings,

I assume you mean future "R" series. I think you might see the ability to tether a camera enhancing existing Wi-Fi function before you'll see one with a SIM slot. Space is a real premium.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

livestreamer — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 13:47:45 GMT

> I think you might see the ability to tether a camera enhancing existing Wi-Fi function before you'll see one with a SIM slot. Space is a real premium.

Yes, hopefully so... for me, the obvious enhancement would be to add an RTMP encoder into the EOS R software, so that it can tether to my smartphone hotspot for WiFi, then stream to my RTMP endpoint.

Failing that, adding a "livestreaming" section to the Camera Connect apps, where you can configure your RTMP endpoint and settings etc, would be a nice simple integration, building on top of existing apps.

But IMHO a SIM Card slot should ultimately replace the SD Card slot.

If all you are doing is streaming, and the stream is being recorded remotely, then there's no need for local storage any more.

I acknowledge that it might seem extreme, especially for people who have always had memory cards to fill up with content.

But with the rise of cloud storage, and livestreaming, I think this is the direction it is headed. Take also the emergence of 5G, which can transmit 4x4k uncompressed video streams... we're entering a new era.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

shadowsports — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:31:56 GMT

Might work in "most" cases, but not underwater or in locations where cellular is not an option. I for one like having local storage, but we all use our devices differently.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

RobertTheFat — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 16:00:11 GMT

@livestreamer wrote:
5G is coming, and so is livestreaming.

Please can future versions of the EOS R include a SIM Card Slot so that the device can connect to a 5G mobile internet relayers, and stream uncompressed 4K with Stereo Audio.

Now *that* would be quite something.

No more cables, no more WiFi, no more BlackMagic, no more Sony.

No, Canon, please don't. Some (many?) of us are getting fed up with the added size, weight, and cost of cameras with features useful only to those shooting video. By all means, start making smaller and cheaper video cameras (if it's technically feasible to do so), but please stop foisting these "improvements" on still photographers.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

shadowsports — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 17:54:59 GMT

Bob,

I'm glad you brought it up. Have to say that I agree with you. Let's keep still image cameras focused on taking pictures and camcorders focused on full power video.

If my DSLR can do some video, great, but I don't need 8K in a still camera. Now maybe a R5 could have been been $3400 (like it should have been from the get go). I'd much rather have GPS, but power is still an issue for mirrorless.

Wirelss streaming sounds like a great feature for a camcorder, but not something most professional still image photographers would want or even need at this juncture.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

Waddizzle — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 21:18:09 GMT

@livestreamer wrote:
5G is coming, and so is livestreaming.

Please can future versions of the EOS R include a SIM Card Slot so that the device can connect to a 5G mobile internet relayers, and stream uncompressed 4K with Stereo Audio.

Now *that* would be quite something.

No more cables, no more WiFi, no more BlackMagic, no more Sony.

Believe it or not, it has been tried before and it flopped. Samsung introduced their Galaxy Camera [in 2012]. It was a resounding failure, which probably explains why marjor camera manufacturers have not gone down that path.

It flopped because it was too big. More accurately, it was too thick to fit your pocket.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

livestreamer — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 21:30:15 GMT

@Waddizzle it's not the same thing.

Putting a better camera in a smartphone is one thing.

But connecting these new mirrorless sensors direct to the livestream, instead of local storage... the opportunities would be endless.

Re: stills cameras vs. camcorders debate... I think Canon stopped being a "stills-only" product when it lost the mirror. Perhaps some of you in the forum still didn't lose the mirror, but once things go mirrorless, they stop being intrinsically linked to an archaic and analogue mechanism for capturing light.

People will demand live will demand extreme high quality imagery and sound... and the EOS R can supply this... so let's get the content flowing live, instead of being stuck on a SD Card, waiting for Post-production.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

Waddizzle — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 22:03:42 GMT

@livestreamer wrote:
@Waddizzle it's not the same thing.

Putting a better camera in a smartphone is one thing.

Actually, it is the same thing. Adding a SIM chip to a camera so it can connect to phone networks makes it a smartphone.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

Waddizzle — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 22:05:50 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
@livestreamer wrote:
@Waddizzle it's not the same thing.

Putting a better camera in a smartphone is one thing.

Actually, it is the same thing. Adding a SIM chip to a camera so it can connect to phone networks makes it a smartphone.

Besides, do you have any idea how much extra cost that would add to the cost of a camera? Hundreds, is my guess.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

John_SD — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 00:51:57 GMT

@livestreamer wrote:
If all you are doing is streaming, and the stream is being recorded remotely, then there's no need for local storage any more.

This would only appeal to people who aren't using the camera for photography.

As it is, this video rubbish is adding substantial cost to the prices of cameras, and for a lot of photgraphers they will have to pay a hefty premium for features they will rarely if ever use. Increasingly the prices are getting harder to justify if you aren't interested in video, because you are paying through the nose for features you're not interested in using.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

Waddizzle — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 04:38:45 GMT

@John_SD wrote:
@livestreamer wrote:
If all you are doing is streaming, and the stream is being recorded remotely, then there's no need for local storage any more.
This would only appeal to people who aren't using the camera for photography.

As it is, this video rubbish is adding substantial cost to the prices of cameras, and for a lot of photgraphers they will have to pay a hefty premium for features they will rarely if ever use. Increasingly the prices are getting harder to justify if you aren't interested in video, because you are paying through the nose for features you're not interested in using.

Most of the video implemetation is done through software. All of the parts to do video are already present in a digital camera.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

kvbarkley — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 13:03:52 GMT

Firmware actually, the Digic chip has to do a lot of work downsampling and compressing, hence the overheating problem.

I am sure, the Digics are very expensive to develop.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

Waddizzle — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 14:41:25 GMT

@kvbarkley wrote:
Firmware actually, the Digic chip has to do a lot of work downsampling and compressing, hence the overheating problem.

I am sure, the Digics are very expensive to develop.

If you are referring to overheating in the R5, that just might be the CFExpress card that is overheating, not the CPU or sensor.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

kvbarkley — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 15:01:00 GMT

Just DSLR overheating in general, I have no experience with the R5.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

John_SD — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 15:13:57 GMT

Gents, head over to DPReview pronto and read the article they just posted regarding the R5/R6 overheating issue. Some great points are made -- among them is that high-end video recording is one of the most processor-intensive activities you can subject the camera to, and any of them will heat up. In the case of the R6/R5, we have a lot of amateurs and spec sheet warriors who will attempt to use them as pro cinema gear, which they are not. Excellent article, in my opinion.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

Waddizzle — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 16:18:06 GMT

@John_SD wrote:
Gents, head over to DPReview pronto and read the article they just posted regarding the R5/R6 overheating issue. Some great points are made -- among them is that high-end video recording is one of the most processor-intensive activities you can subject the camera to, and any of them will heat up. In the case of the R6/R5, we have a lot of amateurs and spec sheet warriors who will attempt to use them as pro cinema gear, which they are not. Excellent article, in my opinion.

Do you mean the article that starts off like this?

"If you have any interest in cameras, you may have witnessed the heated discussions lately around the new Canon EOS R5 and R6’s tendency to overheat when capturing video internally."

Note the key phrase, "when capturing video internally:, which means internal recording. If you use an external recorder, the overheating problems are practically non-existent. Also, the most guilty party in the overheating issue just may be the CFExpress memeory card.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

John_SD — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 20:16:33 GMT

@Waddizzle wrote:
Also, the most guilty party in the overheating issue just may be the CFExpress memeory card.

Despite your weird fixation on the memory card as being the source of the overheating problem, we haven't seen any proof of that to this point.

Actually, I believe that the article presented a pretty good overview and reasons of why the camera is subject to overheating, particularly in its summation:

"It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking this means Canon didn’t put enough thought into thermal management for these cameras. Our testing suggests this isn’t the case, but that the cameras’ specs are rather over-ambitious."

For me, and I suspect for you too, the overheating "problem" won't be an issue, or for any of us who are interested in photography. It is the spray-and-pray videographers who thought they could film for hours on end without issue who are going to be bitterly disappointed. They should look into the C500 Mark II, which is priced at B&H at an affordable $16,000. This would be an apporpriate tool for our "emerging" movers and shakers.

I have zero interest in video, though once in a blue moon I may film something for a minute of two. The R5/R6 would be fine in producing high quality video within the confines of its engineering.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

Waddizzle — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 23:59:23 GMT

@John_SD wrote:
@Waddizzle wrote:
Also, the most guilty party in the overheating issue just may be the CFExpress memeory card.
Despite your weird fixation on the memory card as being the source of the overheating problem, we haven't seen any proof of that to this point.

Actually, I believe that the article presented a pretty good overview and reasons of why the camera is subject to overheating, particularly in its summation:

People have wondered why Sony has never used CFExpress cards in their cameras, despite the fact they invented them.

The reason why there is so much chatter about the "overheating problem" is that it drives traffic to your platform. Profit.

Re: Hardware Feature Request: EOS R with SIM Card Slot

livestreamer — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 12:21:35 GMT

So, my laptop has a SIM chip... is that then also a smartphone? Also, my motorbike has a SIM chip... is that also a smartphone? 😉