Canon EOS R
GREAT IMAGE QUALITY FROM A FLAWED DESIGN.
CANON FANS HAVE waited a long time for the EOS R, and now that it’s finally here, the camera is set to woo back photographers who moved away from full-frame DSLRs to go mirrorless. And it doesn’t disappoint – the EOS R takes beautiful pictures with the vivid colours you get from its best DSLRs. Yet there are some little things about the camera that certainly do disappoint.
Let’s start at the basics, though. The EOS R features a 30.3MP sensor which is low compared to the Sony A7 III’s 42MP capabilities and the Nikon Z7’s 45MP images. The resolution, though, isn’t a deal breaker. The new camera launched alongside three new lenses for the new RF mount, and the combination is superb. Images are sharp, with plenty of details and low-light performance down to ISO 6400 is pretty darn good. Each new lens comes with a control ring that can be used to map settings like aperture, shutter speed and exposure. There’s also three new adaptors, two of them with built-in filters, so Canon fans can use their existing EF lenses.
Canon’s Dual Pixel autofocus (AF) system has found its way into the EOS R, which is truly quite fast. What is unparalleled is the 5,655 AF points covering 88% of the horizontal frame and 100% of the vertical space. While that’s impressive on paper, out of the box, eye tracking is only possible in Single AF mode. In fact, despite the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, the EOS R isn’t quite as smooth as EOS 1D X Mark II while shooting video.
That’s not the only disappointment when it comes to video capture. While the EOS R can shoot 4K video, it does so at only 30fps. If you want 120fps, you need to drop down to 720p. The real issue here – for a brand-new premium camera – is that the 4K suffers from the same 1.7x crop factor found on the 5D Mark IV.
Another problem with the EOS R is the lack of built-in in-body stabilisation (IS) – important if you predominantly shoot handheld. Canon’s defence is that the new RF lenses have dedicated IS systems catering to each lens’ specific needs. However, only two of the four RF lenses feature stabilisation.
If the innards of the EOS R fall short, the build itself is marvellous. It’s a solid camera with a beautifully deep grip. Vloggers will appreciate the large 3.15-inch rear LCD touchscreen, which is wonderfully responsive, and the electronic viewfinder (EVF) is bright and crisp as well. In addition, there’s a top OLED panel that displays all the important shooting information. However, the EOS R isn’t quite as diminutive as its Sony and Nikon counterparts.
While the menu system will be familiar to any Canon user, the design changes on the EOS R could be an issue for some. The biggest change comes in the form of a touch-sensitive M-Fn Bar found to the right of the EVF. This can be used to control things like ISO, white balance, focus and audio. Whether you love it or loathe it will depend on the size of your hands. If you’ve got large mitts, chances are you’ll accidentally keep activating it when you don’t intend to. Another issue some users may face is the lack of a joystick. If you need to move your focus area, you’ll have to use the LCD, which is hard to do if you’ve got your eye to the EVF.
Despite its faults, the Canon EOS R produces excellent results, be it in harsh sunlight or in a darkened room. The camera is also highly customisable but it’s hard to recommend it to anyone other than an existing Canon user. While it compares well to Canon’s own pro-level DSLRs, the video crop factor, resolution, and lack of stabilisation puts it behind the competition from Sony and Nikon. We’ll put these issues down to teething problems and look forward to testing the more affordable Canon EOS RP.