Review: Canon EOS R3 Full-frame Mirrorless Camera for Motorsports

Released in late 2021, the full-frame mirrorless Canon EOS R3 excited photographers with its high-spec features, impressive capabilities for both stills and video, and similarities to the legendary EOS 1DX range of DSLRs. But how does it perform when we put the pedal to the metal? MPB resident photographer Ian Howorth test-drives the Canon EOS R3 at the Mopar Euro Nationals at Santa Pod Raceway. Let’s get up to speed with the Canon EOS R3. Motorsport enthusiasts and Canon fans, read on. Over to you, Ian.

With the release of the Canon EOS R3, there is now almost a full set of Canon mirrorless cameras to rival Canon EF-mount DSLRs. Canon has even retained similar naming conventions across both ranges. The Canon EOS R5 is essentially an updated Canon EOS 5D, the Canon EOS RP equates to the Canon EOS 6D, and the Canon EOS R7 matches up with the Canon EOS 7D. The original Canon EOS R is still the workhorse that launched Canon’s mirrorless range. 

And finally, a Canon pro mirrorless body to rival the flagship Canon EOS 1DX—the Canon EOS R3. More specifically, the EOS R3 is comparable to the Canon EOS 1DX Mark III. Both bodies were released within a year of each other, both flagships of Canon’s mirrorless and DSLR systems. So, while both cameras are quite similar, there are a few key differences between them.

Build quality

The Canon EOS 1DX Mark III is a tank. The EOS R3, not so much. But that doesn't mean the R3 isn't well built—it feels just as solid and robust as the 1DX Mark III—it just happens to weigh around 400g less. Most of that will be down to the removal of the mirror, so don't let the lighter weight fool you. From button actuation to the security of closure of all doors and rubber ports, the R3 is still super sturdy and fully weather sealed too—Canon hasn’t cut any corners at all in its construction.

Features

When looking at the tech specs and features of the Canon EOS R3, the Canon EOS 1DX Mark III offers a good benchmark.

Balance

We mated the EOS R3 with a Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS—and the lens was a joy to use. Considering its focal length, it was a large but lightweight addition to the kitbag. The resulting imagery was incredibly sharp. And, mounted to the EOS R3 body, the lens provided great balance too.

Setting up

In terms of setting up, the first thing I did was calibrate the eye focus. It’s something I wanted to test, having not used it in this kind of situation before—plenty of fast-moving subjects and pan shots. The calibration is pretty straightforward. It’s an important part of the process for the viewfinder sensors to accurately pick up where you are looking to aid focus. Once this was done, the operation was a cinch and I found it worked well. 

Vehicle tracking

The camera was also set to vehicle tracking. There are presets for vehicle, animal and eye tracking, all of which move at different speeds or have a differing relationship to the frame in terms of movement and style of movement.

We went to Santa Pod raceway for the Mopar Euro Nationals, which means anything from dragsters to 70s muscle in different categories. These cars are quick off the line. But, luckily, pit access wasn’t required. Excellent placement of both the stands and the viewing hill—both of which are located on opposite sides of the track—meant great viewing angles and vantage points. Especially for us amateurs.

Eye focus

The eye focus worked well in tandem with the vehicle tracking preset. The eye sensor is constantly tracking, showing you where in the frame the viewfinder is picking up your eye’s gaze. The eye tracking tells the camera roughly where to begin searching for its autofocus point, and the tracking can do the rest.

Colours

The colours are classic Canon. That’s one thing that never changes about a Canon camera, regardless of price point. The colours are accurate but with a bit of flair.

Resolution

While the extra four megapixels over the EOS 1DX Mark III won’t make a huge difference, it’s nice that they’ve increased resolution to keep the EOS R3 on par with most full-frame cameras out there.

Shooting speed

While the camera will shoot ‘only’ 12 frames-per-second mechanically, 30 fps is available via the electronic shutter, which we did use. No signs of a rolling shutter here. We find 30 fps to be plenty. If I’m honest, even 12 fps is plenty. But if you need that bit extra, especially if the job you’re on demands the perfect expression or movement, then those extra bursts will come in handy.

Firmware

I was unlucky that when I tested the camera, Canon had released—and then promptly removed—their 195-frame shooting speed mode. It stated it was available for JPEG and RAW, but only on fixed-focus mode, so those shooting in a studio or not needing autofocus would benefit. Think raindrops. There was no word on why this firmware update was removed so quickly. But, nonetheless, it’s exciting to think about what Canon may unlock for this camera in the future.

Video

On the day, we didn’t test video functionality. But the Canon EOS R3 specs look phenomenal, with resolution ranging from 6K to Full HD in various specs, from 4:2:2 and 10-bit colour to a 4:2:0 8-bit for more manageable file sizes and compression. Slow motion is 239.8/200.0 fps, or 119.9/100.0 fps depending on whether you choose PAL or NTSC. 

Button layout

The Canon EOS R3 button layout is great, as expected, with pretty much everything customisable to ensure easy access to your required functions.

Lenses

As is standard with all mirrorless cameras, lens design can be optimised to have minimal compromise in design—and the RF range is absolutely phenomenal. Does it have the same range as EF? Not quite, but—for many applications—there are a ton of options that would satisfy even the most demanding professional. 

Verdict

Canon very rarely gets it wrong. And the EOS R3 is no exception. But, as a pro-level flagship camera, is it a suitable replacement for the 1DX DSLR range? With a ‘more’ electronic camera, you get more issues that can be a problem for pro shooters. Especially battery life. While the Canon EOS 1DX Mark III can keep going for 2850 shots, the EOS R3 can only handle 760. That does make a huge difference. You can, of course, get a few spare batteries—but that adds further cost, weight and time spent changing your batteries. If you’re used to carrying two extra batteries with your EOS 1DX, I’d multiply that number by the difference in battery life between each system. In this case, that’s nearly four times. 

But battery life might not be that much of an issue for you. Especially when considering the many benefits of using Canon’s mirrorless system. Overall, the Canon EOS R3 is so simple and easy to use. The features just work. If you are looking to make the move to mirrorless, rest assured that the R3 has all your bases covered.

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This article is part of the MPB Guide to Sports Photography, our comprehensive look at how to create sports photography, with camera recommendations, advice and interviews with experts.