Canon's EOS R mirrorless camera could come in a 150MP version

If Fujifilm can develop a superb camera with a 100+ megapixel sensor in the GFX 100, then why not Canon? As crazy as it may sound, Canon Watch is reporting that the Japanese camera maker is developing a full-frame mirrorless snapper housing a 150MP sensor, with the rumored camera being unofficially dubbed the EOS R3.

While it may sound like megapixel madness, it is quite plausible. Last year, Canon showed off a 120MP sensor at the Sensors Expo & Conference in San Jose, California. So it's not too much of a stretch to expect the company to produce an even higher resolution option. That said, the 120MP was not a 35mm full-frame sensor; it was APS-H in size – the sensors that were used in previous high-end EOS DSLRs, such as the EOS-1D Mark IV.

Moreover, rumors of a 75MP as well as an 83MP EOS R camera have been doing the rounds since last year, which could indicate that Canon is at least thinking about a super-high-resolution mirrorless camera, one that sits above the EOS R5 (which could have a 45MP sensor resolution, although Canon has not confirmed that as yet). 

Whether the rumors of a 150MP Canon camera are true or not, the question here is do we really need such a high resolution sensor? File sizes would be massive and it would take a lot of processing power on a computer to edit those in post.

However, both the Fujifilm GFX 100 and the 61MP Sony Alpha A7R IV have proved that ultra high-res sensors work marvellously well, capturing plenty of detail. And it wouldn't surprise us in the least if Sony, too, is looking to outdo itself and develop a 100+ MP sensor for the next A7R shooter.

While we'd suggest you take the news of a Canon EOS R3 and its 150MP sensor with a pinch of salt, it would definitely have the photography world abuzz if it turns out to be true.

Sharmishta Sarkar
Managing Editor (APAC)

Sharmishta is TechRadar's APAC Managing Editor and loves all things photography, something she discovered while chasing monkeys in the wilds of India (she studied to be a primatologist but has since left monkey business behind). While she's happiest with a camera in her hand, she's also an avid reader and has become a passionate proponent of ereaders, having appeared on Singaporean radio to talk about the convenience of these underrated devices. When she's not testing camera kits or the latest in e-paper tablets, she's discovering the joys and foibles of smart home gizmos. She's also the Australian Managing Editor of Digital Camera World and, if that wasn't enough, she contributes to T3 and Tom's Guide, while also working on two of Future's photography print magazines Down Under.