The EOS R is Canon’s first full-frame mirrorless camera, and it is intended to entice you away from competing products such as Nikon’s brand-new Z6 and Sony’s outstanding Alpha A7 III.
The EOS R is the first model in Canon’s new line of full-frame mirrorless cameras, which will be based on a new lens mount that will be known as the RF mount. Although Canon has already begun dabbling in the world of mirrorless photography with its modest lines of APS-C sensor-based EOS M cameras, such as the EOS M6 and EOS M5, the EOS R is the first model in this new line.
In spite of the fact that there are many Canon EOS R variants that were released more recently, the original EOS R is still one of the greatest Canon cameras and can be purchased for a reasonable price.
Canon EOS 5DS R Digital SLR with Low-Pass Filter Effect Cancellation (Body...
- LPF (Low-pass filter) effect cancellation takes full advantage of the original resolving power of the 506 effective megapixels CMOS sensor, delivering even higher resolution images
- Newly designed 506 Megapixel full-frame CMOS helps deliver ultra-high resolution images
- LPF (Low-pass filter) effect cancellation takes full advantage of the original resolving power of the 506 effective megapixels CMOS sensor, delivering even higher resolution images
- Newly designed 506 Megapixel full-frame CMOS helps deliver ultra-high resolution images
- EOS Scene Detection System features a 150,000-pixel RGB+IR Metering SensorPurchase this product between May 1, 2016 and July 30, 2016 and get 13 months of free damage protection from Canon The product must be registered within 30 days of the purchase date to be eligible
- 61-Point High Density Reticular AF including up to 41 cross-type AF points and EOS iTRAdvanced mirror control mechanism and new user-selectable shutter release time lag
- Use the EOS Utility Webcam Beta Software (Mac and Windows) to turn your compatible Canon camera into a high-quality webcam
Features
- 30.3 megapixels of effective resolution on a full-frame sensor
- Mount for new RF lenses
- 4K video recording
A full-frame sensor with 30.3 megapixels and no optical low-pass filter are utilised in the EOS R. Although Canon emphasises that this is not the same sensor, the EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR shares the same pixel count, so if it sounds familiar, the reason is that it is because Canon shares the same pixel count. However, we have a strong suspicion that it is very closely connected to the chip that is used in the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. This is not a terrible thing, considering that this chip is one of Canon’s sensors that performs the best.
Additionally, there is a new DIGIC 8 processing engine and a robust native ISO range of 100-40,000, which can be enlarged to settings similar to ISO50 and 102,400 – precisely matching the capabilities of the EOS 5D Mark IV.
Canon has chosen for a new lens mount for its R series (we’re assuming there will be more) of mirrorless cameras, much like Nikon did with its new Z range of full-frame mirrorless cameras. The new RF mount features a substantially lower flange distance than the EF lens mount but has the same throat diameter of 54 millimetres as the EF lens mount (the distance from the rear of the lens to the sensor). This has decreased from 44 millimetres to 20 millimetres, although it is still a little bit longer than the flange distance of Nikon’s Z mount, which is 16 millimetres.
As you might anticipate, you will be able to utilise your Canon EF lenses on the EOS R by means of an adapter; but, rather than releasing just one kind of adapter, Canon will be releasing four distinct models. There is the basic (and more affordable) EF-EOS R mount adapter, the EF-EOS R mount adapter with a control ring (which will be discussed in more detail shortly), the EF-EOS R mount adapter with a built-in circular polarising filter, and the EF-EOS R mount adapter with a built-in variable neutral density filter.
It is interesting to note that Canon has decided against including in-body image stabilisation in its full-frame mirrorless cameras, something that competitors Sony and Nikon have included in their offerings. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach, which would result in a bigger camera footprint, Canon contends that it is preferable to adapt the IS to each individual lens in order to get the best possible results. In spite of this, two of those brand-new RF lenses do not have any type of image stabilisation in any way, shape, or form.
Surprisingly, the EOS R is only the third EOS camera to support 4K, following in the footsteps of the EOS 5D Mark IV and the EOS M50. However, whereas competitors provide full recording across the sensor, the EOS R has a crop factor of 1.7x, which will make it harder to frame wide-angle shots. Competitors also provide full recording throughout the sensor. However, you have the option of shooting at either 30p or 24p, and Full HD video may also be captured at up to 60p.
The electronic viewfinder (EVF) that comes with the EOS R has a resolution of 3.69 million dots and a magnification of 0.76x. This means that while it is on par with the EVF that comes with the Nikon Z7 and Z6 in terms of resolution, it is not quite able to compete with the 0.80x magnification that its competitors from Nikon offer.
The electronic viewfinder of the EOS R is accompanied by a big touchscreen with a vari-angle display that measures 3.15 inches and features a respectable 2.1 million dots of quality.
While Nikon’s use of a single XQD card on the Z7 and Z6 provoked some criticism, Canon’s decision to continue with SD cards for the EOS R, with a single UHS-II capable slot available, has caused the company to avoid controversy.
If you are already an owner of Canon equipment and you want to use the EOS R in conjunction with your current setup, you will be delighted to learn that the EOS R is compatible with Canon’s LP-E6 battery, which is utilised by a variety of EOS DSLRs. This should come as good news to you. The LP-E6N battery, which enables charging directly within the camera, is included with the EOS R camera body itself.
Design And Handling
- A body made of magnesium alloy
- Resistance to the elements
- A brand new control bar
The EOS R has a design aesthetic that falls between that of a traditional EOS DSLR and that of Samsung’s NX1 mirrorless camera.
The outside of the EOS R features a nice matte finish, while its internal components are made of magnesium alloy and magnesium. When you combine this sturdy construction with a handgrip that is suitable for a DSLR, you can be sure that it is very well crafted. In contrast, a side-by-side comparison with the similarly sized EOS 5D Mark IV reveals that the EOS R, although thinner, is not significantly smaller. Instead, it feels very much like something like an EOS 6D Mark II when held in the hand.
This may be seen to be excellent news for many Canon customers, as they will undoubtedly be pleased with the familiarity of the EOS R. This implies that Canon users will continue to enjoy the same fantastic handling, in addition to receiving improved support for longer and/or heavier lenses. Having said that, if you like the smaller size of a mirrorless camera over that of a DSLR, you might not notice as significant of a difference as you might think there would be.
Because Canon has made an effort to keep the button arrangement and user interface of the EOS M5 consistent with that of its previous line of DSLRs, users who are already accustomed to the EOS environment should find the M5 to be an easy transition. However, there are a few minor variations, some of which are advantageous while others are not.
The new top-plate LCD screen is a feature that has quickly become one of our favourites. This isn’t simply due to the fact that it provides essential information at a glance; rather, it exceeds our expectations in terms of the amount of data it displays and the amount of planning that went into its design.
For instance, pushing the light button causes the screen to become illuminated; however, you need to maintain pressure on the button for a bit longer than is customary. What is the cause? Quickly pressing it brings up a screen that gives more shooting possibilities (the primary ones shown at default being aperture, shutter speed and so on). Even though the light button is a bit small and not prominent enough for the most comfortable usage, it is still a creative use of controls that are already there and are known to the user.
The new M-Fn control bar, which is positioned just below the top-plate screen on the back of the camera and has a snappily called, but less spectacular, moniker, is located just below the screen on the top plate of the camera. How does it work? The control bar on the EOS R can be programmed to provide access to a variety of different settings, and it reacts to swipes as well as taps. For example, if you drag your thumb over the control bar, you can quickly navigate the ISO range, scroll through the white balance settings, or do something else.
We didn’t really get accustomed to this control, and we guess that many users would rather that Canon had utilised the area the control bar takes up for a joystick-type AF lever instead. However, Canon should be commended for attempting something new. Despite this, we didn’t really get used to this control.
Quality of the Image
- rapid fire at 8 frames per second
- Touchscreen with a variable degree of responsiveness
- EVF that is both detailed and steady
The EOS R has a maximum frame rate of 8 fps, making it quicker than Canon’s own EOS 5D Mark IV, which is only capable of 7 fps, but slower than both Sony’s Alpha A7 III (10 fps) and Nikon’s Z6 (12 fps) (11fps). This slows down to 5 frames per second with focus tracking and even further to a pedestrian 3 frames per second if you wish to utilise the ‘tracking priority’ setting on the EOS R.
However, the buffer on the EOS R is fairly good, allowing the user to record up to 100 JPEGs or 47 raw files before having to take a break to process the data.
The touchscreen capability of Canon’s products, on the other hand, is quite well developed. In contrast to the restricted touchscreen functionality found on Sony’s mirrorless cameras, the technology found in the EOS R enables you to operate a wide variety of the camera’s functionalities.
This not only covers shooting and reviewing images (including utilising the back screen to touch and drag the AF point), but it also covers navigating the menu system and Quick menu of the EOS R. The touchscreen interface provides a pleasant and responsive experience overall when used.
Even though the viewfinders found within the Nikon Z6 and Z7 offer a slightly higher magnification, it’s unlikely that you’d notice a significant difference between them unless you were actively comparing them to one another side-by-side. The viewfinder found within the EOS R also doesn’t let you down in this regard. It has a wide surface area, and a high level of detail, and performs exceptionally well in low light.
The responsiveness of the camera’s touchscreen is carried through to a significant portion of its function. You can navigate through menus as well as photographs that have been shot without any lag, and zooming in on and moving around images is just as quick and seamless. It would appear that there is very little latency involved when it comes to the camera recording adjustments as you make them.
The EOS R has a smaller control dial that wraps around the mode button on the top plate of the camera rather than the rear scroll wheel that is found on high-end EOS DSLRs. This dial is located on the top plate of the camera.
It seems like something that would be more at home on a PowerShot small camera, and the only place you can see what the current shooting mode is is on one of the screens rather than on physical control. This mode button is an oddity indeed.
However, the huge on/off switch that is located to the left of the viewfinder seems to take up the unnecessary real estate; a mode dial that incorporates an on/off switch collar would be a more effective use of this area. However, to be fair, Nikon’s high-end DSLRs have relied on a single mode button for years, and there has never been a problem with this design choice.
The incorporation of a control ring on the new RF lenses is a welcome feature. This ring is comparable to those seen on a variety of high-end fixed-lens compact cameras (for example, Canon’s own PowerShot G1 X Mark III), and it adds a lovely finishing touch to the lenses. The function of this can be changed to suit your needs, with options including ISO and exposure compensation. In addition, the fact that this is a clickable ring (the operation can be changed to smooth in the menu), which provides you with that helpful immediate feedback, is sure to please many people.
Depending on how you intend to use the camera, the battery can last anywhere from 330 to 560 shots. For example, if you anticipate spending the majority of your time looking via the electronic viewfinder, you can anticipate that the battery will last fewer than 560 shots. Although this does not match the endurance of the battery in the Sony Alpha A7 III (710 shots), as we discovered with the Nikon Z7 (another new mirrorless camera with a modest ‘rated’ battery life), you can expect to get more shots under the real-world shooting conditions that you will be encountering.
Image Quality
- Results that are extremely comparable to those of the EOS 5D Mark IV
- Noise in the image is effectively managed.
- Good dynamic range
It should not come as a surprise that the Canon EOS R delivers image quality that is equivalent to that of the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV given that the two cameras share a sensor. This is very encouraging news because, despite the fact that it may not quite reach the same heights in terms of resolution and dynamic range as the more expensive 42MP and 45MP sensor competitors from Sony and Nikon, it is unquestionably the most capable sensor that Canon currently has in its arsenal.
What exactly does it mean when applied to the outside world? If you have the right post-production tools, you shouldn’t rule out the possibility of printing an A2 size document, and making a Super A3 print with a high level of detail shouldn’t be too difficult either.
Moving on to the sensitivity performance, we find that the EOS R has good control over picture noise. The results indicate no evidence of noise up to an ISO of 800, with only a hint of luminance noise (grain-like appearance) showing at an ISO of 2000. When the sensitivity is increased to ISO 10,000, chroma noise, which is colour noise, and luminance noise, which is light noise, become more evident.
The dynamic range is really good, but the EOS R does not provide you with the same level of freedom as the full-frame megapixel monsters produced by Sony and Nikon. Having said that, it is still feasible, through post-processing, to restore a respectable degree of information in the shadows while still preserving detail in the highlights.
We have come to expect very good colour reproduction from Canon cameras, and the EOS R delivers nice, natural tones, with skin tones faithfully reproduced as well; in addition, there is a wide variety of Picture Styles to select from if you are going to be shooting JPEGs, and there is also a tilting touchscreen.
The metering system of the EOS R works effectively, resulting in exposures that are well-balanced. On the other hand, the automatic white balance system of the camera does not throw any unpleasant shocks into the mix. White priority auto settings provide neutral pictures even when working with tungsten lighting, but the Ambience priority auto settings have a tendency to keep some warmth in the image. White priority is one of the two automatic settings that may be selected by the user.
Final Verdict
First things first: the Canon EOS R is not a mirrorless version of the EOS 5D Mark IV. Instead, it is better to think of the new camera as being more comparable to the EOS 6D Mark II, which is geared more at enthusiast photographers.
To offer a camera that would appeal not just to the EOS faithful but also to those lured by Sony’s Alpha full-frame mirrorless cameras (and now by Nikon’s Z series as well), Canon had to accomplish a delicate balancing act. This is something that we cannot ignore.
Is there something wrong with it? Yes, in a lot of different ways. Canon did an excellent job of bringing over everything its user base already knows and loves about Canon’s DSLRs, while also adding a few more layers to make the EOS R a more powerful camera that is also more pleasurable to use.
The surface is beautiful (although it is slightly susceptible to the same scuffing as some other matte-finish models), and the focusing technology is reassuringly quick and smart, while the image quality is likewise difficult to fault.
Although the handling as a whole is pretty decent, there is most definitely some potential for advancement here. Frustratingly, there is neither a mode dial nor an AF joystick on the camera. Additionally, the M-Fn control seems to be a bit iffy. In addition, there is the somewhat undercooked 4K video, as well as the absence of in-body image stabilisation, both of which are likely to irritate some users while others won’t notice this limitation nearly as much.
In addition to that, the camera is somewhat cumbersome. Even though we’ve seen mirrorless cameras get heavier and heavier over the past few years, the EOS R doesn’t seem all that much more compact than one of its DSLR stablemates, and the lenses themselves are pretty hefty in size.
The EOS R is a very powerful camera that ought to satiate the needs of a good number of Canon DSLR users who are searching for a reliable mirrorless option. When you consider the price premium over competitors like the excellent Nikon Z6 and Sony Alpha A7 III, we find it difficult to recommend the EOS R over its competitors. However, once the rough edges of this first-generation model have been smoothed out, it could be a very different story with the EOS R II. If we weren’t bound by a system, however, we’d find it hard to recommend the EOS R over its competitors.
Canon EOS 5DS R Specs
| Body type | |
|---|---|
| Body type | Mid-size SLR |
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 8688 x 5792 |
| Image ratio w:h | 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 51 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 53 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) |
| Sensor size notes | Offers 1.6x and 1.3x crop modes, as well as medium and small Raw sizes. |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Dual DIGIC 6 |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 100-6400 (expandable to 50-12800) |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 50 |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 12800 |
| White balance presets | 8 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, normal |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.3, DPOF v2.0)Raw (Canon CR2, 14-bit) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousFace DetectionLive View |
| Autofocus assist lamp | No |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 61 |
| Lens mount | Canon EF |
| Focal length multiplier | 1× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3.2″ |
| Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | No |
| Screen type | ClearView II TFT-LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.71× |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Exposure modes | Scene Intelligent AutoProgram AEShutter Priority AEAperture Priority AEManualBulbCustom |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes (via hot shoe and PC sync port) |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/200 sec |
| Drive modes | SingleHigh-speed continuousLow-speed continuousSilent single shootingSilent continuous shootingSelf-timer |
| Continuous drive | 5.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedSpotPartial |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | ±3 (3 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Videography features | |
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) |
| Format | H.264 |
| Videography notes | Supports ALL-I and IPB compression |
| Microphone | Mono |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible), CompactFlash |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (mini-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | No |
| Remote control | Yes (Wired and wireless) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes (dust and water-resistent) |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | LP-E6 lithium-ion battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 700 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz) |
| Dimensions | 152 x 116 x 76 mm (5.98 x 4.57 x 2.99″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | None |
Canon EOS 5DS R Price
