Canon's "Retro" Camera is Coming – Featuring a 32.5MP Sensor

In recent months, there has been little rumor or discussion about a "retro" style camera that Canon plans to release in 2026. It's said to be a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Canon AE-1, but so far, nothing noteworthy has been revealed.

However, reports suggest that the camera will be available in 2026.

Reports indicate that the new camera will use the same 32.5MP full-frame sensor as the EOS R6 Mark III and EOS C50. This isn't surprising, as the more of this sensor Canon produces, the lower its manufacturing cost.

How much will it cost?

Reports suggest that this "retro" camera will be "significantly cheaper" than the $2799 EOS R6 Mark III, with fewer features, weaker video capabilities, and an entry-level DIGICX processor.

This is also unsurprising: if you're going to produce a camera that might be considered a niche product, you need to sell it at an affordable price to shed that label.

To achieve sales success, this camera would likely need to be priced around 12,000 yuan. Canon isn't a company that produces small batches of consumer-grade semi-professional cameras.

New retro lenses? There are probably at least two lenses that match the camera's design. It's unclear which two lenses specifically, but they are likely existing lenses with a completely redesigned look. A retro version of the L-series lenses is unlikely, so a combination of zoom and prime lenses would be a reasonable choice.