[caption id="attachment_4841" align="alignright" width="300" caption="A mockup I found of a potential G13 camera"]
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Last week I wrote about the possible "end of life" for the Canon G series cameras. The day after my post the S100 and SX40 HS were released. For the past few years the G and S series cameras have used the same sensor, but the G cameras have always had better lenses. The S100 sports a 5x zoom with a max aperture of f/2.0 on the wide end. It's hard to beat that in a point and shoot camera. So while it's entirely possible that we'll see a G series camera with the same lens, sensor, and image quality as the S100, but what else would separate it? Canon will have a hard time tacking on an extra $200 and trying to justify it with a crappy viewfinder, screen that flips out, and a hot shoe. In terms of size and "unique" specs the G series is very dated. As I've mentioned, you can get the new Canon S100 that does the exact same thing in a smaller, truly pocketable size. If you desperately need a hot-shoe on a point and shoot camera for either a flash, pocketwizard, EVF, or whatever your little heart desires, check out the Panasonic LX5. It has the same sensor and image quality as the S95/G12. The fans of the G series cameras will crow about there not being a viewfinder on these other cameras, but are we seriously trying to defend the viewfinder on the G12? It's pathetic and is similar to looking through a Holga camera. There is no Paralax correction and I just don't find it to be a very useful tool for composition. So all of this being said, what is next? Click 'MORE' to see a few different directions I think Canon may decide to take their G series cameras in.
1) The most likely scenario is that Canon will release a G13 with the same sensor as the S100. Maybe it will have a 7x zoom so it can trump the S100's 5x capability. The screen will fold out and we will all be told by Canon how good the camera is supposed to be. For most people there is enough name recognition both in Canon and in the G series to make this camera marketable while they scramble to come up with a more impressive solution for next year. I do truly believe this is the last year Canon will be able to push the G camera on us. I am not saying the G series is bad, it has the reputation that it does for a reason, but the whole concept of a higher-end point and shoot with a small sensor is becoming long in the tooth.
- A Canon patent for a mirrorless camera mount. Don't put too much stock into this because many companies have thousands of patents that never turn into products.
2) A new mirrorless camera system. I don't think Canon will make a micro 4/3rds mount camera for a few reasons. The G series solution is only a blip on the radar for Canon. They are a huge company and #1 when it comes to photography, meaning they don't need an Olympus or Panasonic type company to tie their name to. If Canon decides to go with a new camera system, it will be their own proprietary mount, with EF-S/EF mount adapters. The only question is if it will be "just another mirrorless camera" (like Nikon is expected to release tonight) or something more innovative. Though it is entirely possible that Canon isn't interested in creating an entirely new system. They own the lion's share of the compact and interchangeable lens market, so why fix something if it isn't broken? In Europe and Asia, mirrorless cameras really are starting to catch on and eating away at DSLR sales, so it may behoove Canon to act early. That being said Canon has bigger fish to fry. So even though the smaller camera trend has become very popular and I could see Canon addressing this with an even smaller rebel camera.
- We probably won't see anything this cool, but we can dream...
3) Perhaps the most likely solution (not this year) is a fixed lens camera with a large sensor ala the Fuji X100. I don't think Canon would make a retro designed camera, but a slightly larger sized G series camera with a much bigger sensor would be nice. This is the only way I could see Canon using a micro 4/3rds sized sensor. Even the lowly Olympus E-PL1 kicked the tar out of the G11/12 a couple years ago. A significantly larger sensor and fixed lens would allow Canon to keep the "G" series alive and well. Serious photographers would love a camera like this. I am not interested in buying into a whole new system myself, but the idea of a relatively inexpensive (under $800) large sensor camera with good old tied and true Canon optics does pique my interest. After working here for a couple years I could tell you that the average consumer would much rather buy something like this than a interchangeable lens camera. I would argue that a lot of professionals would say the same thing, I know I would. With all the lenses I already own and the thousands that have been invested, I truly have no interest in buying into a whole new lens system. I just want a small camera with a high quality lens. Maybe I'm just crazy, but I haven't been blown away by any of the MILC systems yet.
4) Ignore the "problem" and completely ditch the G series line, replacing it with nothing. Maybe improving the S100 in the future to include the option for a chintzy EVF or something fancy to catch people's attention. Like I've mentioned in this post a couple times, Canon really has more important things to worry about. It wouldn't be the worst idea of all time to leave the G12 as it is and just let people keep buying them. The way I've written about the topic may make it seem like there is some crazy demand for a new product from Canon and that their survival depends on it. Nothing could be further from the truth. The S100 looks like a promising camera and Canon may be using that camera as a bellwether to see if they even need to make a G13. For years the G series cameras have been marketed as the professional's compact camera, but with so many other options out there Canon may decide it's time to get out of the game and focus their resources on something like an EF mount camcorder.