What new cameras can we expect soon?

2024 has been quite eventful regarding new camera announcements with the recent Canon, Fujifilm, and Nikon releases. And with four months left before the new year, many photographers are expecting to see several more cameras hit the market.

Before we dive into what we think is coming in the final four months of 2024, let's take a look at the noteworthy announcements we have had since the year started. Canon dropped two bombshells just before the Olympics with the Canon EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II. The R1 is the brand’s newest flagship while the R5 Mark II takes its predecessor to a whole new level.

Nikon also turned a few heads with the release of the Z6 III. The third iteration of its mid-range full-frame camera features some of the newer technologies found in its higher-end siblings. Nikon even surprised its users by adding a new 24-megapixel stacked sensor and an amazing 5.76-million dot EVF.

Fujifilm also had a great year with the X100VI, GFX 100S II and X-T50. The Fujifilm X100VI is arguably the most in-demand camera for the year, with major camera retailers finding it hard to keep up with orders. Fans of the brand were also impressed with the Fujifilm GFX 100S II, a compact medium-format camera that is a significant step up from the GFX 100S.

Among the major camera manufacturers, Sony has had the least activity. The Japanese tech giant released only one model in the Sony ZV-E10 II, an update to its existing vlogging camera.

What do we expect in the next four months?

Well, there have been a lot of rumors circulating on social media about upcoming cameras that will be released towards the holiday season. We have compiled a list of the most plausible releases to give you a glimpse of what is in store for photographers in the next four months. Please keep in mind that these are rumors and speculations from industry insiders, so please take it with a pinch of salt.

First on the list is the Fujifilm X-M5 which is expected to arrive before the end of the year. The rumor started with a new Fujifilm camera registration with the codename “FF240002” which was spotted by a Chinese Weibo account E8M and shared online. The website Fuji Rumors further claimed that one of its trusted sources has confirmed that the upcoming camera is the Fujifilm X-M5.

It will be quite a shocker if Fujifilm does end up releasing the X-M5. Its predecessor, the Fujifilm X-M1 came out in 2013 and was one of the least successful cameras from the brand. Many believed that the X-M1 was the last model from the series until the new rumors came out. It will be a very bold move from the popular camera maker to revive the series that has been dormant for over a decade.

Two new Sony cameras

Sony didn’t make a splash this year compared to 2023, however, there have been talks of a major camera announcement in November. Reliable insider Andrea Pizzini of Sony Alpha Rumors shared that the company is preparing to unveil a new camera before the year ends. During a recent livestream, Pazinni speculated that a successor to the Sony FX9 is coming soon.

The rumor started when a famous Australian influencer named Mike from the Noth Borders YouTube channel revealed that he would be traveling to Taiwan to try out a new Sony camera. He mentioned that he is traveling to the city of Taipei to test a new Sony camera “in the rain” and said that viewers should expect “a lot of rain POVs” from the channel. It is interesting for the YouTuber to reveal this information as most photographers are required to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements when testing new gear.

Lending more credence to the rumor is the fact that Sony filed a new camera registration with the model "WW751104". The registration was first spotted and shared by the Japanese website DCLife. Interestingly, the website mentioned an FX-series E-mount camera and another E-mount mirrorless. So, we may be getting two Sony camera announcements before the end of the year.

DJI is entering the mirrorless market

As we have discussed here, Pizinni revealed that DJI will be entering the mirrorless camera market in September. The insider claims that two reliable sources have shared the same piece of information, leading him to make the video. He adds that DJI will be holding a big event next month and it may include a mirrorless camera announcement.

Pizinni explains that the popular drone and action camera manufacturer already has experience in the mirrorless market as it owns the Hasselblad brand. He believes that DJI may be working on a lower-end full-frame camera to rival Nikon, Sony, and Canon to cater to the hobbyist market.

Towards the end of the video, Pazinni mentioned that he does not have “100% confirmation” about the information shared and is relying on his years of experience.

Marrying DJI’s innovative approach to drones and action cameras with Hasselblad’s 180 years of experience does sound like a very intriguing prospect. It will be fascinating to see what DJI can bring to the table if the rumors are true.

The Nikon Z7 III and Z50 II

Ever since the release of the Nikon Z6 III, there has been a lot of speculation that the Z7 III will follow suit. However, Nikon Rumors recently said that "if the Nikon Z7 III is coming, I am not aware of it."

There are rumors of a possible Nikon Z 50 II APS-C camera and a Coolpix P1000 replacement. Earlier this year, Nikon Rumors shared that the company filed two camera registrations that have so far remained unannounced.

Our Verdict

We are hoping that we will at least get one or two more announcements. In our opinion, the most likely candidates for an announcement are the new Sony FX camera and possibly one camera coming from Nikon. Both Nikon and Sony only announced one camera each and it will likely be just a matter of time before they announce additions to their respective lineups.

The least likely cameras to be announced are the Fujifilm X-M5 and the DJI mirrorless camera. Japanese manufacturer Fujifilm has already unveiled three new models this year and it will be highly unlikely for the company to add a fourth camera before the year ends. It would be wise for Fujifilm to spread out its camera announcements to keep photographers interested in the brand.

As for DJI, the absence of camera registration filings from the company reduces the reliability of the information. While it would be interesting to see the popular drone manufacturer enter the mirrorless market to take on the industry giants, the rumor does seem like a stretch.