Canon EOS R8 evaluate: Punching above its weight

The Canon EOS R8 is the successor to the EOS RP, which signifies that it is now probably the most reasonably priced option to get into Canon’s full-frame eco-system – or will probably be as soon as the RP inventory dries up.

The digital camera shares many similarities to the RP, particularly with regard to its design, however at its core, it shares a sensor with the spectacular EOS R6 Mark II. This implies it is able to producing some severe pictures and at a massively decreased price.

The query is, what corners wanted to be lower to hit such a value level? And is it possible to save lots of round $1000 by choosing this digital camera over the R6 Mark II? We have been excited to seek out out.

Design

• Dimensions: 132.5×86.1×70.0 mm
• Weight: 414 grams
• Climate-resistant development
• Simplified controls

As we talked about within the introduction, the EOS R8 shares an identical design to the RP. Because of this it is exceptionally compact for a full-frame digital camera, and Canon says that it is the lightest full-frame physique it has produced to date.

That is nice for portability – one in all our chief complaints with capturing full-frame is the load of the gear, and this physique helps maintain your package bag manageable. Nonetheless, there are downsides to the design. It simply would not look or really feel notably premium, and ideally, we might hope for one thing with a bit extra of knowledgeable sheen when buying on this value bracket.

The simplified controls, that are largely inherited from the RP, have been onerous for us to regulate to, as properly. There isn’t any joystick for AF choice, you will must faucet on the show to alter your focus level, and there isn’t any rear wheel both.

We usually map our ISO to the rear wheel, and with no such enter obtainable, the subsequent smartest thing is mapping ISO to the operate button and utilizing one of many different management wheels. It isn’t the top of the world, however it’s a compromise that we might do with out. We would fortunately carry the additional weight if it meant a couple of extra bodily controls.

The grip is respectable, and as with most different Canon our bodies, nice care has been taken to make sure that it is ergonomically designed. It is snug to shoot with whereas utilizing the package lens, which can be extraordinarily compact and light-weight for full-frame glass, however we will not think about that being the case with a few of Canon’s bigger lenses.

The battery can be smaller, it makes use of the LP-E17 battery which is simply 7.5Wh. We did not discover this too painful to work with in apply, however for those who’re planning on utilizing this digital camera for skilled work, you will doubtless need to fill up on spares. There aren’t any battery grip choices obtainable at current, both.

So, the compromises are plain to see, however it might probably’t be overstated how spectacular it’s {that a} full-frame digital camera might be this small and light-weight. The physique is just a few grams heavier than our tiny Lumix GX9, with its comparatively tiny Micro 4 Thirds sensor.

Connectivity and shows

• Single SD card slot
• Micro HDMI, 3.5mm headphone and mic sockets, USB-C
• Flip out 3-inch 1.62 million dot LCD
• 0.39-inch 2.36 million dot 120Hz OLED EVF

Regardless of the tiny chassis, connectivity is kind of good. The one factor that actually differentiates the R8 from its bigger siblings is that it has a single SD card slot, fairly than the twin slots discovered on {most professional} mirrorless cameras.

Because of this you continue to get 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks, a USB-C port for charging and file switch, and a micro HDMI for video output. A full-size HDMI would have been good, however since you do not even get a kind of on the R6 Mark II, there was no probability of it showing right here.

The shows are similar to those featured on the Canon EOS R7, you get a 2.36 million dot OLED EVF with a 120Hz refresh fee and a 1.62 million dot flip-out touchscreen LCD.

The LCD may be very responsive to the touch, however its readability is nothing distinctive – there have been a few occasions that we missed focus as a result of we have been judging by the show alone. Nonetheless, it will get the job accomplished and was completely usable on a vibrant sunny day. The truth that it flips out signifies that it is well-suited for customers that need to movie themselves, too.

The EVF is far sharper, and a greater option to choose your closing pictures. The 120Hz refresh fee signifies that it feels clean and pure to make use of, too.

Photographs and movies

• Full body CMOS sensor – 24.2MP stills
• As much as 40fps burst capturing / 6fps with digital 1st curtain
• As much as 4K 60fps / 1080p 180fps video
• 4:2:2 10bit color with CLOG3

For the reason that sensor is identical because the one within the R6 Mark II, as is the processor, we have been very assured that we would be happy with the outcomes from the R8, and this certainly turned out to be the case.

There are two major modifications with the R8. Firstly, there isn’t any sensor-shift IBIS, so all IS modes depend on both the lens or digital stabilisation (which comes with a big crop).

Secondly, there is a new shutter mechanism on this mannequin. As a substitute of utilizing a full conventional mechanical shutter, the R8 is digital on the primary curtain, and a mechanical shutter ends the publicity – very like the Sony A7C.

More often than not, we did not discover a lot of a distinction with this shutter mechanism. Although, it is price noting that it’s fairly loud. The principle distinction you will discover is that the R8 can solely shoot as much as 6fps bursts, in comparison with 12fps on the R6 II. After all, for those who go all-electronic, you possibly can shoot at a blazing-fast 40fps silently, with both digital camera.

We examined with the RF 24-50mm F/4.5-6.3 IS STM package lens, which is impressively light-weight and small, however would not actually exhibit the total potential of this digital camera. Nonetheless, it is the type of glass that is helpful to have in your assortment for these events when you do not need to be weighed down by your gear. The huge sensor signifies that you continue to get some good depth of discipline, even whenever you’re caught capturing at f/6.3.

One other function inherited from the R6 Mark II is the autofocus monitoring capabilities. We discovered it very spectacular on that digital camera, and it is simply as spectacular right here. You’ll be able to choose from all types of choices, permitting you to robotically monitor every thing from planes and vehicles to animals and people.

With regards to video capturing, the EOS R8 presents the identical oversampled 4K video capturing with no crop at as much as 60fps, and the outcomes are excellent. It is liable to get a bit toasty within the course of, because of its smaller chassis, however we did not run into any points ourselves. Admittedly, we have a tendency to stay to shorter clips, although.

The sluggish movement capabilities are the identical because the R6 II, as properly, providing as much as 180fps at 1080p decision. It is helpful, however the picture high quality positively takes a success. For probably the most half, we might advise utilizing 4K60 footage in a 30fps timeline when you have to sluggish issues down.

There are two ranges of digital picture stabilisation obtainable in digital camera, commonplace and enhanced. The usual mode will take among the shakiness away, with a slight crop, whereas enhanced does a extra thorough job, at the price of a a lot bigger crop. It isn’t fairly a match for a great IBIS system, however we have been stunned by how little it affected our capturing – there aren’t any potential wobbly corners to fret about both.

Verdict

For those who’re eager to get into full-frame images or filmmaking with a Canon digital camera, the EOS R8 is difficult to withstand. It presents quite a lot of the identical options because the EOS R6 Mark II, and it does so for a grand much less. Consider the lens you possibly can purchase with the financial savings!

There are some things that we do not like, the simplified controls being the primary one. We particularly missed the rear wheel on this mannequin, and a much bigger battery would sweeten the deal, too. There’s additionally no IBIS, however that posed much less of a difficulty in actuality than we thought it’d.

Canon’s lineup. The R6 Mark II is definitely a greater and extra well-rounded digital camera, and it solves all of our points with this mannequin. However when it prices a lot extra, that value turns into onerous to justify. Evaluating it to the R7, properly, there’s simply no contest, we might decide the R8 any day.

It is the competitors from exterior of the Canon household that makes issues a bit extra difficult, particularly whenever you have a look at a digital camera just like the Lumix S5II, which solves all of our points and is far much less of a bounce in value. It is definitely not as light-weight or compact, although, and it might probably’t do 4K60 and not using a crop.

And that is simply it. The R8’s dimensions are an enormous a part of its enchantment, and contemplating the only a few shortcomings it serves up due to it, it comes extremely beneficial.