The Canon EOS R is a camera we’ve all been waiting to see for several years now. It’s a full frame mirrorless camera with a 30.3MP sensor, 4K video capture, and an all-new lens mount. So how does this new camera and system handle the hype and anticipation that’s been building for so long?
In short, it’s promising.
In reviewing the Canon EOS R, it’s important to consider where it fits Canon’s new RF mount ecosystem, as well as relative to its EF mount counterparts. The hype, anticipation, and sentiment all wanted the Canon EOS R to be a mirrorless version of the Canon EOS 5D product line. Unfortunately, that’s not where Canon slated this first full-frame mirrorless outing. Based on the pricing and overall feature limitations, it’s more analogous to the Canon EOS 6D line.
Canon EOS R Key Features
- 30.3MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
- DIGIC 8 Image Processor
- UHD 4K30 Video; C-Log & 10-Bit HDMI Out
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF
- 5655 AF Points
- 3.69m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder
- 3.15? 2.1m-Dot Swivel Touchscreen LCD
- Expanded ISO 50-102400
- 8 fps Shooting
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- SD UHS-II Card Slot
- Multi-Function Bar
- Dual Pixel RAW
The Canon EOS R is built around a 30.3MP full-frame sensor and uses the new RF mount, which provides a shorter flange distance and results in larger rear lens elements to produce an image on the full-frame sensor. The RF mount also provides faster and more in-depth communication between the camera and lens thanks to the new 12-pin communication system.
Canon says the EOS R offers “uninhibited compatibility with all existing EF, EF-S, TS-E and MP-E lenses through the use of mount adapters.” There are three adapters possible for using EF lenses on the EOS R – the Basic EF Adapter for $100; the Control Ring Adapter for $200; or the Drop-in Filter Adapter for $400.
When Canon first announced the EOS R, I questioned the rather bold use of the term “uninhibited.” However, after using a variety of EF lenses with the Basic EF adapter on the EOS, I have to admit that I couldn’t discern a difference in ordinary use. Additionally, I used the EOS R with several third-party lenses . . . even an old Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 from 2005 that’s still in my bag . . . and it worked just fine. Sharp, fast, and consistent AF with everything I threw at it.
While I’m sure there are lenses that don’t well (or maybe at all), I have to hand it to Canon for working through the compatibility for older lenses. If you’ve got a bag of EF lenses that you are worried about functioning on the EOS R, stop worrying. That’s no reason to not buy the EOS R.
Canon EOS R with (circa 2005) Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG HSM Lens at 200mm, f/2.8 and ISO 4000
The new lens options are enticing on the EOS R. The shorter flange distance (as compared to the EF mount) is already yielding some interesting lenses like the RF 28-70mm f/2. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get my hands on this salivating lens when I had the EOS R back around the holidays but I got to use the RF 24-70mm f/4L IS and the RF 50mm f/1.2L. Both are just fantastic lenses but I hardly took the RF 50mm f/1.2L off the camera.
Our very good boy Hank with the Canon EOS R w/ RF 50mm f/1.2L at ISO 1000 and f/1.2
Crop of above image at ISO 1000 and f/1.2
There are gobs of samples you can dig up on more technical review sites and if you’re the pixel peeper type, I encourage you to search those out. I didn’t really get too technical with the EOS R’s image quality; however, I was never disappointed with the images it produced. It is head and shoulders above the Canon 6D Mark II and more closely aligned with the 5D Mark IV‘s image quality.
Canon EOS R Sample Image with 50mm f/1.2L at ISO 100 and f/1.2
Overall, I like the handling and grip of the EOS R. It’s definitely a step-down in size from the 5D line of DSLRs but I consider that a good thing. The button layout is good overall. Some of the new functions are a matter of taste though. The mode dial that brings up a sub-menu of modes on the camera’s LCD was a turn off for me. As was the new M-fn bar.
My opinion on manual buttons and switches is that I want tactile feedback of what I’m doing. I don’t get tactile feedback on the M-fn button/panel and I could never get used to the menu option of the mode dial. Would it stop me from buying the camera? Probably not. I think it would take me several months to adapt though.
Another complaint that I’ve heard since the EOS R was announced is the lack of dual memory card slots. I think is likely a small percentage of people with this demand. I’ve written about this before but I think is a non-issue with this camera. It has a fast UHS-II slot. Finally, Canon goes with UHS-II.
It accommodates 4K video and can record C-Log internally at 8-bit, along with still image capture up to 8fps. Again though, this is not the “pro” mirrorless camera from Canon. It’s prosumer for sure but not a replacement for the 5D Mark IV as a workhorse.
All that said, the EOS R can be a replacement for the 5D Mark IV among a certain class of shooter: the prosumer that has the image quality discernment causing them to reach for the 5D Mark IV’s capability but doesn’t need the robust build and workhorse demands of a professional shooter. If you wanted to go with the lighter and more affordable 6D Mark II but were put off by its lacking image quality, the EOS R may very well be the camera for you.
The built-in 4K timelapse works great for producing a ready-to-use timelapse movie in 4K quality. If you want more control, there’s no way to take still images with a built-in intervalometer like you can on Canon’s pro DSLRs.
However, the affordable Vello Shutterboss remote gets you more control than those cameras offer interally anyway. It’s the same remote that works on the Canon Rebel series and is a must-have if you enjoy shooting timelapse sequences and still want the flexibility your RAW files provide you after the capture.
I’ve gotten to where I love a good articulating display on just about any camera – and the Canon EOS R’s touchscreen display is a great addition. It’s very flexible in practical shooting situations and keeps me off the ground when framing from a low angle. The touchscreen is as good as the rest of what Canon offers – and I still think Canon has about the best touchscreen action of any camera.
The WiFi transfer works well enough to get solid images from the camera to your phone for quick edits in Lightroom or your mobile app of choice. I love to see some revolutionary advances in this space but Apple and Android have the hands to play and our niche use case as enthusiast and pro photographers probably doesn’t register loud enough to force their hands. For now, it is functional enough to get your high-quality images off your camera and onto Instagram.
On the video side of things, I think Canon is happy to let the EOS R lag behind and let a higher-end model step up the video segment in its mirrorless line. While the EOS R records 4K video, it is significantly cropped to the tune of 1.8x. This makes lens choices a nightmare and consistency with other Canon cameras frustrating. The jello effect is in full effect on the EOS R as well thanks to the rolling shutter. If you’re a video enthusiast or pro, then you already knew this. If you want some decent video, the EOS R can deliver solid results. However, this camera is hands-down a still image shooter first and foremost – a role it handles very well.
Most of all, the Canon EOS R has me excited and optimistic about where pro and prosumer cameras are heading. I’m glad to see Canon on the mirrorless train alongside Nikon. While the EOS M line has its own promising cameras, the EOS R line is the future of Canon and this first offering is quite compelling. As a Canon shooter with a bag EF lenses, if I was going to drop $2k on a camera today, the Canon EOS R would be at the top of my list.
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Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS Lens
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Thanks for the review, I picked one up a couple weeks ago and am considering writing a review myself based on shooting with two 5D Mk4 bodies and trying the EOS R (I might even do an actual YouTube reviews).
I stopped by Glazer’s Camera in Seattle today and saw the massively huge RF 28-70mm f/2L lens and just had to try it on. I didn’t bring my body with me so I used the one in the store and the EOS R body was eclipsed by the enormous size of that lens. My EOS R body has the excessively overpriced battery grip (which I purchased used on eBay) so it probably wouldn’t look as disproportional, but even so I could also imagine the cost of feeding that lens some 95mm filters (polarizer and ND filters). Despite its size, the lens could just about replace a 35mm, 50mm and almost the 85mm, all at f/2.
The lack of dual card slots is still a major issue for me. I shoot weddings (about 15 a year) and can’t really get away without dual card slots, especially when 2nd shooting for another photographer who will require me to use dual cards. I also shoot fashion runway and it’s just as critical to have a backup of images that can’t be reproduced.
I picked up the EOS R on a Friday and shot a fashion runway show (Metropolitan Fashion Week) the following day. But in my defense, I had been reading the advanced user manual online and got about halfway through it (page 295 or so) before the camera arrived, so I at least got through the part about auto-focus. I was fairly confident in the thought of taking a completely new and different body into a fast-paced shooting scenario, my only apprehension was the single card slot. Definitely an adjustment from shooting with the Canon 5D Mk4, all my muscle memory of where buttons and dials are went out the window.
The main reason I purchased the EOS R was for the autofocus. I’m tired of focus points being in a cluster toward the center of the viewfinder and want more options. I love that lens microfocus adjustments are not needed on mirrorless bodies and the percentage of keepers is noticeably higher with the mirrorless body so it’s worth it to me. I also want to get a head start on “the future” because I know this is where things are headed and in order to stay competitive I need to adapt quickly to this. I feel like there will be much better mirrorless bodies in the near future (otherwise why would Canon be introducing $3000 monster lenses to sell with 6D Mk2 equivalent bodies), and when that time comes I’ll be in a better position to decide if I’ll give up my DSLR bodies and go all mirrorless. Meanwhile I get to play and experiment with the EOS R while I can still do my critical work with the 5D Mk4 bodies. I’m mainly a still-image photographer but regularly do some video work which is always 1080p 24fps, so this EOS R is fine for my needs (other than the lack of dual card slots). I do not own any RF lenses yet (probably won’t until I completely switch over to mirrorless) but I did pick up the lens adapter with the control ring. I have the control ring set for adjusting ISO and I’m actually really happy with it, also wishing that the RF lenses had the ring closer to the body rather than toward the front element of the lens.
Thanks for chiming in Jared. I really appreciate your thoughts on the EOS R coming from a different perspective than mine. I think your inclination is that this is not the mirrorless camera for you . . . and I don’t think you are Canon’s intended customer. As a mirrorless shooter, you’re the edge-case. But I think most pro shooters fit in that category. Canon sells a gaggle more Rebel DSLRs than 5D and 1D cameras. However, the pro shooters buy the lenses and that’s where the next iteration of the EOS R line is going to likely push guys like you over the top.
I think Canon was really close on the EOS R and the few niggling issues that won’t let you go all-in right now will be resolved when the mirrorless 5D-equivalent comes out. If it weren’t for those couple of reservations, would you jump into mirrorless based on the rest of your experience with the EOS R?
Yes and no about this not being the mirrorless camera for me. It’s not enough for me to completely switch over right now, but it is enough for me to have purchased it even without dual card slots and certain other features that I would have liked.
Build quality and autofocus are two definite strengths of the EOS R in my opinion. If the body shape felt like a Sony body I probably would have resisted Canon’s mirrorless until the next version came out, especially if a poorly designed body was coupled with a single card slot. But the EOS R feels really good to hold and I can definitely see myself getting used to it.
Some people want to go mirrorless for size and weight, but for me it was about having more autofocus points, dual-pixel AF (when looking through the viewfinder), ACCURATE AUTO FOCUS (which doesn’t always happen on the 5D Mk4 if you’re using the outer focus points), and occasionally a silent (or at least a quieter) shutter. The size and weight are not an issue for me since I usually carry two 5D Mk4 bodies both with battery grips. I was glad that Canon didn’t make the EOS R body too small, this is just about right for me.
BATTERY LIFE was something I was always skeptical about with mirrorless, which is one reason I never switched to Sony. On May 11th (my first day of shooting with the EOS R) I shot 2,122 images and 1,735 of those were with the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens with IMAGE STABILIZATION turned on. At the end of the night my batteries (two of them in the grip) were around 50% capacity. I brought plenty of spare batteries but was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t even need them.
I would absolutely agree with you that Canon got it really close with the EOS R, close enough to get me to buy one without waiting for their next (more professional) model. To answer your question about going all-in with mirrorless, I think I could answer that more accurately when the next body is released but for now I could probably say yes. There were a few times where I was panning as a model was walking and there was some lag in the EVF which was frustrating but not devastating, I just had to learn to work around it (just like we learn to use a small cluster of AF points toward the center of the frame on a DSLR). I’ve watched a few reviews on YouTube about the EOS R and some are willing to sell their 5D Mk4 bodies for the EOS R. My friend is thinking about selling his 5D Mk4 and getting a second EOS R mainly because he nails focus every time on the EOS R compared to his 5D Mk4. I’ve barely had mine for 10 days but I can completely see mirrorless in my future once Canon releases bodies that fill my needs.
Thanks for the follow-up. Good stuff.
I purchased a second EOS R body in July because it was difficult shooting weddings with the EOS R and the 5D Mk4. Every time I would grab the 5D Mk4 I wished it was the EOS R.
Yes, there are things about the 5D Mk4 that I really miss but overall I’ve been shooting nonstop with the EOS R bodies since July and love it. I’ve done 29 weddings this year (one more to go) and most of them have been with the EOS R.
Still looking forward to the dual-card-slot replacement but in the meanwhile this has really been great, even with its minor quirks.
Jared were you able to track the models well on the runway with the R? And did you select an AF point or try using face detect in Servo mode? I shoot a fashion runway show yearly and wanted to know how capable the EOS R is specifically for that.
Hopefully it’s OK to use links here, if not please feel free to edit my reply.
Here are a couple short videos I made with images from my remote cameras which were triggered as I shot the EOS R, this will give you an idea of the layout, and I was shooting from underneath the plane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLcxl89wTKw – normal view
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVfaHdoIiw4 – super wide alternate view
Here are the EOS R images I shot from under the plane:
https://www.facebook.com/jared.ribic/posts/2143351739046114
At the fashion show I tried a few different things with autofocus and eventually ended up with single point focus in servo mode. I’m really into back-button-focus and set it up so the shutter button is only for metering and shutter release. Tracking the models in low light was so much easier on the EOS R, I was shooting at ISO 6400 at f/2.8 to give you an idea of how dim the conditions were.
For group portraits I wish there were an easier way to move the face detect from one face to another. I’m using the touch-drag on the screen which is nice but overall it’s a bit laggy which bothers me when I have a group of people waiting for me to take the picture. When all else fails I just go for single point autofocus and touch-drag over the face I want and that’s always faster. I find that I’m almost always in servo mode because I don’t need rapid bursts of photos and I know I’ll have solid focus no matter what.
I’ve had the EOS R for a little over a month now and have already turned over the image counter (over 10,000 images). I’ve shot events and two weddings already with the EOS R alongside the 5D Mk4 and after shooting the second wedding (a couple days ago) I was wishing I had two EOS R bodies. I’m waiting to see what mirrorless body Canon will release next before I spend any more money. If it’s a more pro body then I’m sold, if not I might just pick up another EOS R on eBay to get me by.
Until shooting the EOS R side by side with my 5D Mk4 I didn’t realize the difference an EVF makes. During a dimly lit reception the EOS R was fine and then I picked up the 5D Mk4 with the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens I looked through its optical viewfinder and thought “This is really dark and hard to see”. It takes so much longer to get a good focus with the 5D Mk4 in low light compared to the EOS R, not only that but I KNOW that the EOS R is going to nail focus every time, not so much with the 5D Mk4.
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One thing I really need next is a way to back up images in the field when I’m second-shooting for other wedding photographers. Looking at the Western Digital My Passport Wireless SSD but I’d like to compare with other options. In the meanwhile I’m just bringing a laptop with me to transfer images while packing up gear.
I have another major fashion show on July 20 and I will definitely be using the EOS R as my main camera again, and might look into wireless image transfer as we have someone who will edit and post images in real-time during the show. Wishing I had two EOS R bodies already!