Camera rumors in 2026: what cameras are coming, officially and otherwise!

It's a new year, and a whole bunch of new camera rumors have been kicking off 2026!

Last year saw dozens of leaks and reports bear fruit. Even some of the most outlandish camera rumors turned into actual products on shelves, from the Fujifilm X Half (a digital half-frame camera) and Leica M EV1 (an M rangefinder with an EVF) to the Nikon ZR (a crossover camera with Red) and Canon PowerShot V1 (a compact vlogging camera).

We also had long-awaited successors to cameras we've been expecting, such as the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, Sony A7 V and Panasonic Lumix S1II / S1IIE / S1RII – all preceded by some pretty accurate camera rumors.

But of course, the internet is the wild west when it comes to information – while smoke often leads to fire when it comes to camera rumors, just as many times it leads to a dumpster fire! So grab your pitcher of salt and I'll guide you through the latest leaks to see what might be coming in 2026 and beyond…

Canon rumors 2026

Canon is always the subject of more camera rumors than any other manufacturer, in large part because it has been the most prolific photographic patenter for 41 consecutive years. And these patents are often the first clues we get as to what is coming in the next wave of cameras.

This year's Canon rumors have been dominated by videography and vlogging devices – and indeed, the company's camera launches in 2025 have all been for video-centric products: the Canon PowerShot V1 compact, the EOS R50 V vlogging camera, the EOS R6 Mark III hybrid and the EOS C50 cinema camera.

So what Canon rumors can we expect to come to fruition in 2026?

Canon EOS R7 Mark II

From unfulfilled (or, perhaps, unrealistic) promises throughout 2025, it now seems pretty locked in that the Canon EOS R7 Mark II will arrive by mid-2026 – perhaps starting the year with a bang by being announced around the CP+ show in February.

For months I heard the camera being referred to as a "baby R5", and I think I know why: the latest chatter is that the R7 Mark II will feature a 40MP, 8K sensor. That would make it Canon's highest resolution APS-C camera ever – and also match Fujifilm's 40MP sensor that debuted in 2022.

Of course, the uptick in resolution will come with a couple of compromises. The first I've heard is that the R7 Mark II will have a physically bigger body (with some sources even claiming that it will be big enough to be compatible with R5 accessory grips), likely to accommodate a heat dispersion system.

It's also been reported that the new R7 will be limited to UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) rather than DCI 8K (8192 x 4320), so as not to tread on the toes of the EOS R5 Mark II.

There has also been talk of in-camera upscaling, using Canon's amazing neural network image processing. I'm not sure how seriously to take this; Canon's neural net tech has so far been exclusive to the EOS R1 and R5 Mark II pro cameras, and it feels like a big jump to bring that to an APS-C body.

Then again, there has been chatter that Canon intends to seriously "shake things up" with the R7 Mark II, so perhaps this kind of flagship firepower is exactly what's being referred to.

Canon RE-1

After months upon months of whispers, I've finally heard more concrete info about Canon's much-rumored retro EOS R camera – which I've been long been calling the Canon RE-1, based on everything pointing to it being a mirrorless update of the iconic Canon AE-1 film camera.

Indeed, with April 2026 marking the 50th anniversary of the AE-1, you should probably circle your calendar.

It seems that Canon is taking the same tack as the Big N did with the Nikon Zf; rather than the RE-1 being a high-spec technological marvel, Canon seems to be basing it on a mid-range camera with a focus on photographic rather than video features.

In this case, it's being said that the RE-1 will feature the new 32.5MP full-frame sensor found in the R6 Mark III and EOS C50 – but the camera will likely omit features like 7K video and open gate capture, both to keep costs down and to offer more of a pure photo experience in line with the film camera it honors.

Clearly this retro territory is very rich, with Fujfilm, OM System and Nikon all seeing great success with classically-styled cameras. Canon would do well not to price itself out of the picture, with some suggesting a sub-$1,999 price tag to ensure success.

Personally, I'm more concerned about the current lack of vintage lenses that would pair with a film-style body. I hope that Canon releases similarly SLR-style editions of the RF 35mm f/1.8 and RF 50mm f/1.8, to give us some fittingly retro-feeling glass…

Canon EOS R10 Mark II

Quite a few products are coming up to their life cycle renewal season, including the Canon EOS R10. This brilliant little body is a hot seller for the brand, frequently topping the sales charts in Japan, thanks to its powerful specs for a very budget-friendly price.

Sitting between the Canon EOS R50 and EOS R7, it's tricky to see how to upgrade the R10's specs (24.2MP sensor, 23fps burst, 4K 60p video) without treading too much on the toes of the upcoming R7 Mark II (above). However, if the R7 Mark II does indeed jump to 40MP / 8K territory, the R10 Mark II could receive some choice updates.

Resolution may well be one of them, if Canon decides to keep using the R7's 32.5MP sensor, perhaps along with a bump to 30fps shooting. I wouldn't imagine the R10 Mark II to inherit in-body image stabilization or weather sealing, though.

Canon EOS R8 V

Following the launch of the Canon EOS R50 V – a sister version of the original EOS R50, but geared towards video – it's being whispered that Canon is working on further models in the "RV" line, including another model that's coming this year.

After initial suspicion that this could take the form of a successor to the Canon EOS R7 (whose follow-up is said to be highly disruptive), it's now being rumored that the next RV camera will be a full-frame body: a sister model to the Canon EOS R8.

This, it seems, will be the V Series' flagship camera, bridging the existing gap between the APS-C R50 V and the full-fledged Cinema EOS line – giving aspiring, existing and experienced creators a whole range of choices before they graduate to cinema cameras.

Built around the same 24.2MP sensor as the R8 (and R6 Mark II), the EOS R8 V is said to be capable of uncropped 4K 60p (oversampled from 6K) and 4K 120p with a 1.2x crop, with CLog 3, 10-bit 4:2:2 (H.265) and 4-channel 24-bit audio.

With a rumored price tag of $1,799 for the body, and $1,999 with a kit lens, this could be a seriously competitive camera in the creator space.

Canon PowerShot V3

With the PowerShot V1 (above) having launched in Asia, there are already rumblings about the next member of the V-series family.

Where the V1 is clearly Canon's vlogging and videography-oriented compact camera, it sounds like the Canon PowerShot V3 will be the model aimed at photographers.

From what I hear, the camera will have the same 1.4-inch sensor as the V1, but will ditch the 16-50mm content creator zoom range in favor of a 20x zoom range that might top out at around 500mm – perfect for stills shooters.

If it retains the V1's 30fps burst shooting, I think this could be a serious seller in 2025 and beyond.

Canon 3D VR Camera

I had a chance to talk to Canon about its prototype 360° / 180° 3D VR Camera. It's clear Canon is really doubling down on virtual reality, having introduced the Canon RF 5.2mm f/2.8L Dual Fisheye lens a couple of years ago and with a pair of APS-C 3D / VR stereoscopic lenses on the way as well.

This new camera, which physically looks like a mashup of the Dual FIsheye and the Canon PowerShot V10, combines all the tech in one: 360° / 180° 3D VR 8K capture, along with VR live streaming.

While this wasn't something Canon said to me, I've heard that the camera has a target price of under $1,000 (about £820 / AU$1,590). This is definitely something to keep an eye (or even a Dual Fisheye) on…

Canon Posture Fit

Back in 2021 Canon introduced us to Posture Fit: a concept camera that looks like a Pixar character and sits on your desk, where it keeps an eye on how you're sitting using a wide-angle lens and skeletal mapping. When it spots you starting to slouch, it flashes and wobbles and beeps on your desk to tell you to straighten up – and it'll even remind you to get up and move around, if you've been sitting too long.

After falling off the radar ever since, recently a patent was filed in Japan describing a Posture Fit that could monitor multiple subjects in its field of view – not just the person sat at the desk in front of it. Again, it's not a photographic camera (so it can't be used for spying or surveillance) but it's a very clever lifestyle device that anyone who sits in front of a computer will surely benefit from.

Canon EOS R3 Mark II

The R3 sits in a strange position in Canon's lineup, now that the R1 is here. Once the placeholder product until an official flagship was announced, some feel that it's a lame duck given that the actual flagship outclasses it in every way.

However, many of the innovations of the R3 made their way into the R1 (and indeed the R5 Mark II). Does the R3, then, become the technology launchpad of the EOS R family? The camera that debuts the latest tech, before it is further refined for the tentpole products?

I can certainly see sense in that. The Canon EOS R3 Mark II could, for example, be where the company debuts its first global shutter sensor – testing the waters with the sensor tech (which, it should be remembered, does come with a number of compromises) before doubling down on it in the R1 Mark II. Indeed, there are rumors that Canon is ready to launch a camera with a global shutter sensor.

At the same time, though, it could equally be that there is no further need for the R3. With the original camera now being three years old, the next few months are going to be very interesting…

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