Disappointed with the fate of the EOS M line

Sittatunga wrote:

R2D2 wrote:

Canon's #1 operating principle has always been to protect their higher end sales. Period. It's never been a question of ability, it's always been about will.

I've always had difficulty believing that bit of folklore.

I can't believe you don't see this at work, you've been around long enough!  Like I said, Canon does nothing that might endanger their higher end sales.  Every move they make takes this into account, even the timing of releases.

If Canon can make money out of fast APS-C lenses they will. Those lenses aren't so much about stealing sales from their high end as stealing sales from their competitors and making their competitors look unattractive.

But those high end APS-C lenses are also up against Canon's low end FF models so, while the £490 EF-M 32mm f/1.4 makes the £700 XF 33mm f/1.4 look too big, too heavy and too expensive, the RF 50mm f/1.8 is smaller, lighter and less than half the price of its EF-M equivalent. Canon can sell the EF-M lens because it's excellent and won't fit RF mount or DSLRs, but an RF mount version is a harder sell. From an engineering point of view, top end APS-C is just too expensive for its results compared with low end FF.

I think it's general consensus that Canon needs to fill out their "crop compatible" lens lineup further if they want to make crop a comprehensive system, able to stand alone.  I'll be surprised if we see this happen though.  Their entire lean has been toward full frame.  Even the existing (RF) lenses that are useful on crop are FF lenses (16, 24, 35, 50, 85, and the zooms).  Heck, the two RF-S lenses they've given us so far are EF-M hand-me-downs!

And I think with the coming introduction of an entry-level FF the emphasis will stay on FF.  We'd all love Canon to surprise us though with a dozen magnificent crop-specific (or at least crop-oriented) lenses, but what do you think the chances are?

What are the chances that Canon will release a fast and bright RF-S 18-50 f/2.8 zoom?  Zippo.  Because in reality the results would compete directly with one of their own systems costing many times more than that.  It's for the same reason that Canon never gave EF-M one of these lenses.  Canon has to protect their money-making upper end systems.  Otherwise it would be fiscal suicide.

Personally I'd LOVE to eat crow if our Leopard (Canon) changes its spots.  I'll be first in line to buy!  Starting with an M6ii form-factor R body with a TILTING LCD!  Bring it on!  

R2