Review: Canon EOS R Full-frame Mirrorless Camera
Published 17 March 2021 by MPB
Back in the mid-2010s, while Sony ran away with its position as leader of the mirrorless world, everyone wondered when Canon would respond with a camera of their own. After months of speculation on the camera and specs, Canon released the Canon EOS R to the world in 2018. And the Canon EOS R did not disappoint. This quick review explores the Canon EOS R's specifications and features, and compares the EOS R against its DSLR equivalent, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV.
Ahead of its release, many photographers debated how the Canon EOS R might compare to its competitors. In the four years leading up to the Canon EOS R's release, Sony—in particular—had invested heavily in developing mirrorless technology. But Canon gave us plenty with the Canon EOS R, its full-frame sensor crammed into a compact and cleverly designed body.
Featuring a similar 30-megapixel sensor to the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, what excited us the most about the Canon EOS R was its handling, usability, and—of course—the launch of the RF mount. Today, the Canon EOS R is as popular as ever. Praised for its ever-growing lens range and for keeping the classic Canon lineage of great-handling, easy-to-use cameras alive.
Which genres can the Canon EOS R handle?
The Canon EOS R is a great option for a wide range of genres. For example, fashion photographer Lisa Marie Asubonteng and MPB's Gess Puglielli both use the Canon EOS R and Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM for their unique photography styles.
FACES AND SPACES | Model: Sharda @mirrrsmodels @supersharda | Canon EOS R | 24-105 mm | 47mm | f/6.3 | 1/200 | ISO 500
Gess Puglielli | Canon EOS R | Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM
Paired with the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 L IS, you can use the Canon EOS R to capture the night sky—as astrophotographer Nicholas Römmelt demonstrates.
Nicholas Römmelt | Canon EOS R | RF 15-35mm L IS USM | 26mm | 60 sec | f/4.0 | ISO 6400
Canon EOS R vs Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
In Ian Howorth's EF vs RF Canon 50mm f/1.2 comparison article, you can see further examples of the difference in image quality between the Canon EOS R and Canon EOS 5D Mark IV.
Specs
In this section, we'll look at the Canon EOS R's specs — and how they compare to those of the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. Both feature a 30-megapixel full-frame sensor. While the Canon EOS R is smaller and lighter, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV battery life is longer and offers access to the more affordable EF lens range.
Canon EOS R | Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Mirrorless | DSLR | ||
Sensor | Full-frame | Full-frame | ||
Megapixels | 30 | 30 | ||
Lens mount | RF | EF | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic | Optical | ||
Screen | Articulated | Fixed | ||
Stabilisation | Digital only | None | ||
Focus points | 5655 | 61 | ||
Min ISO | 100 | 100 | ||
Max ISO | 40,000 | 32,000 | ||
Burst, fps | 8 | 7 | ||
Shutter | 1/8000 | 1/8000 | ||
Media slots | Single | Dual | ||
Battery, CIPA | 370 shots | 900 shots | ||
Size, mm | 136x98x84 | 151x116x76 | ||
Weight, g | 660 | 890 | ||
Released | 2018 | 2016 |
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