Canon rumoured to be working on an EF/RF hybrid mount mirrorless camera

This is the strangest thing I’ve heard in a long time, but according to Canon Rumors, Canon is working on an EF/RF hybrid mount mirrorless camera that doesn’t use any kind of lens adapters. They’ve marked the rumour as a “CR2”, indicating that the information has come from a known reliable source, but I just can’t imagine how this is even possible.

Despite being a mirrorless camera, CR says they have been told that the camera will have a body style more akin to the EOS 1 series cameras, like the EOS 1DX II, rather than a form factor similar to the EOS R. They say it would be able to utilise both EF and RF mount lenses without the use of any kind of adapter. They mark the rumour as “CR2” which they describe as…

[CR2] – Good information from a known source
Even known sources that have been correct in the past may not provide perfect information from time to time. This rating means there’s a strong possibility that the information has some truth to it, but it may be incomplete and/or misinterpreted information.

So, the whole thing might be nonsense. It’s an intriguing idea, though, and could be a nice stepping stone for those who want to make the switch from EF to RF or for those who wish to utilise both systems.

The EF mount does have the same diameter than the RF mount, and could conceivably be modified to fit both systems, the flange distances between the two are vastly different, though. The EF mount would have to stick out much further than the RF mount in order for EF mount lenses to retain the full focal range. And if it sticks out far enough for EF mount lenses, your RF mount lenses would all essentially become macro, with the extended mount acting like an extension tube.

The only potential solution to this that I can see is possibly some kind of retractable EF mount that can be withdrawn into the body when using RF mount lenses. But if that were the case, would you really want to trust your EF mount lenses on it? I can’t imagine an easily retractable system would be very strong.

Mechanical moving parts on a lens mount performing this type of action means it’s likely not going to be as solid as the EF mount currently found on Canon’s DSLRs. Or even as solid as using a fixed EF to RF adapter on an EOS R body.

But if they are working on such a hybrid camera, I’d be interested to see exactly how they manage to pull it off.

[via Canon Rumors]