A Chinese forum has posted rumors about Canon’s mirrorless DSLR called EIS that will be launched in second quarter of 2011. The first camera of the series will be called EIS 60 and it will come with 22-megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensor measuring 18mm x 12mm. The sensor size is about the same as the sensor found on Micro Four Thirds cameras, smaller than DSLR. But the sensor will have some very unique properties making it ideal for high-end mirrorless camera.

The two main features of the new sensor are Sensor Windowing and Pixel Fusion. In sensor windowing mode EIS 60 can shoot 20 fps at 5.5 megapixel using ¼ of the sensor for each frame. The Pixel Fusion is used for HD video recording where 9 pixels – a square matrixes of 3x3 pixels on 22-megapixel sensor are fused together to get one pixel to give 1920 x 1080 full HD video resolution. The Pixel Fusion is done using DIGIC image processor where details from all 9 pixels are used to make one single big image pixel with increased dynamic range and reduced noise.

Canon new name EIS stands for Electronic Image System in place of EOS moniker, which stands for Electronic Optical System on current DSLR lineup. The first EIS 60 camera will aim at high-end compact DLSR market, which Canon will create with the new camera, rather than compete with entry-level Micro Four Thirds cameras like GF1 or PEN E-PL1.

According to rumors, Canon will launch the camera with two lens 12-75mm F2.8-4 IS Macro and 70-300mm F3.5-5.6 IS. Other features of the EIS 60 will be ISO range of 100-6400 (up to 25,600 at 5.5-megapixel), dual SDXC card slots and support for Canon’s EF lenses via EF-EIS adapter.

Canon has already said that they are working on a smaller DSLR design and if the above rumors are true they are going for a total redesign of the complete compact SLR category.
[Via EOS HD]