Where's Canon's compact camera to rival Sony's new full-frame RX1R III?

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What are the chances Canon will launch its first full-frame compact camera now that Sony's RX1R III is turning heads? Let's find out

A Sony RX1R III camera with a large lens on a dark background, overlaid with a red circle containing the text "Canon?"
There are some high-resolution fixed-lens powerhouses on the market, but a Canon compact full-frame camera is missing (Image credit: Kim Bunermann / Future)

The compact camera market is heating up, thanks to large sensor devices with fixed lenses. Sony recently launched its full-frame RX1R III full-frame compact camera, definitely raising the bar – making the Leica Q3 43 look overpriced.

Leica's Q series has been a strong contender for years, while Fujifilm's medium format GFX100RF, introduced in March 2025, continues pushing boundaries of image quality with a 102MP medium format sensor. In a compact camera!

With so much competition, and recent Canon rumors about a new G series PowerShot with a photographic focus, I can't help but wonder: Canon, where's your answer to the large sensor fixed-lens camera segment?

To my knowledge, Canon has never released a compact camera with a resolution higher than the PowerShot G1 X Mark III's 24.2MP APS-C sensor. And, popular models like the G7 X Mark III only pack a 20.1MP 1-inch stacked CMOS sensor – nowhere near full-frame territory (the RX1R III and Q3 both feature 61MP full-frame sensors).

Recently, I stumbled on a headline from Canon Rumors that instantly addressed my question: "Canon has no plans for a fixed-lens full-frame camera". Canon Rumors is a reliable source and, after reading its detailed article (which I recommend), it's clear Canon doesn't intend to launch such a camera any time soon – or maybe ever.

The reason? The market for fixed-lens full-frame cameras apparently just isn't big enough to make it worthwhile for Canon.

That said, the camera market is always evolving. Interest in high-resolution fixed-lens cameras seems to be growing, especially with Sony's latest release stirring things up.

The real question is whether this buzz is driven by the allure of full-frame and medium format compacts, or if buyers are truly willing to invest a premium for a compact camera that prioritizes portability but lacks lens flexibility.

While official sales figures of those new high-resolution compacts are still under wraps, only time will reveal how well these cameras perform on the market in the long term, or might stay niche.

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Browse our guides to the best Canon cameras. You might also be interested in reading our news about the Sony RX1R III.

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Kim Bunermann
Kim Bunermann
Staff Writer

Kim is a photographer, editor and writer with work published internationally. She holds a Master's degree in Photography and Media and was formerly Technique Editor at Digital Photographer, focusing on the art and science of photography. Blending technical expertise with visual insight, Kim explores photography's time-honored yet ever-evolving role in culture. Through her features, tutorials, and gear reviews, she aims to encourage readers to explore the medium more deeply and embrace its full creative potential.

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