The Canon EOS R was announced in September 2018, their first full-frame mirrorless camera. This camera got the photography community talking about it, a hot topic because they were the new kid on the block (in the full-frame mirrorless camera segment) joining Sony and Nikon in this particular full-frame mirrorless camera segment. When the Canon EOS R was launched, I got the opportunity to have a feel and short hands on experience during an event. However, due to the huge popularity and massive attention on the first Canon full-frame mirrorless camera, I didn’t get the opportunity to do the Canon EOS R review until March 2019 (after the Canon EOS RP was launched in February 2019).

Photo courtesy of Canon Singapore

With short hands on knowledge of both Canon EOS R and Canon EOS RP, my family and myself decided to purchase the Canon EOS RP pre-launch promotion package. Moreover, I have a (pretty good) knowledge and understanding of Canon’s mirrorless camera journey from their Canon EOS M (my parents bought it, replaced by the Canon EOS RP) to the launch of the Canon EOS R, I published an article in Decemeber 2018 titled “The Canon Mirrorless Journey from Canon EOS M to EOS R”.

Therefore, there was a short period of time whereby I had both Canon EOS R and Canon EOS RP full frame mirrorless cameras with me, I was able to create content with both Canon full frame mirrorless cameras while reviewing the Canon EOS R first before proceeding to use/review the Canon EOS RP. Upon returning the Canon EOS R, I was using the Canon EOS R a lot more, thus the delay in publishing my Canon EOS R review article.

Although the Canon EOS R has been in the market for at least half a year, there had already been a number of review articles and videos published around the world. I would still contribute and publish my Canon EOS R review article, followed by the Canon EOS RP article and a third article on the comparisons between Canon EOS R and Canon EOS RP, more in-depth thoughts and analysis, finally why I chose the Canon EOS RP over the Canon EOS R.

Aesthestics / Physical

  • LCD Panel , interesting , takes a bit of getting used to it , customising to your requirements
  • Buttons customisable to suit your working style and requirements
  • Mode dial different from other canon camera models
  • No joy stick, AF point on the screen can be moved with your thumb
  • Nice feel and grip, ergonomically designed, balanced weight
  • Single card slot
  • Flip screen, useful, versatile and flexible
  • Cover when lens is detached, protecting the sensor from dust entering it

Performance

  • Scene Intelligent Auto, Flexible-priority AE, Program AE, Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, Manual, Bulb, C1 Program AE, C2 Program AE, C3 Program AE
  • Maximum ISO @ 40,000 , grainy , probably 25,600 is still useable
  • Digic 8 processor and latest sensor, accurate colours
  • Anti-Flickr
  • EVF can view in very dark conditions
  • Eye Auto-Focus has improved significantly since testing it on the Canon EOS M5 (thanks to Dual Pixel CMOS AF)
  • Focus tracking and auto-focusing on moving objects has improved since Canon started their mirrorless cameras, still not as fast as DSLR AF.
  • No IBIS
  • Flexible-priority AE
  • Focus distance display – In MF Mode, When focusing, Always, Disable
  • Focus distance display – Unit: m or ft
  • Wi-fi and bluetooth enabled
  • Remote Shooting via Wi-Fi and Camera Connect App
  • Can customise M-Fn bar, cusomise dials, customise buttons
  • Dual Pixel RAW
  • Raw and C-RAW
  • Touch shutter
  • Cropping/aspect ratio: Full 1.6x crop, 1:1 , 4:3, 16:9

EF to RF Adaptor

  • Very useful, a must have for existing Canon users
  • Borrowed from personal Canon EOS RP setup
  • EF L lenses work alright
  • Concern with bugs/communication between EOS R and older EF lenses

Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens Review

  • Sharp lens
  • Bokeh is good
  • Customisable control ring
  • Versatile lens, wide to mid telephoto lens
  • Shorter in length as compared to the EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS II USM lens
  • More compact (107.3mm vs 118mm) and slightly lighter than the EF counterpart (700g vs 795g)

Videography

  • Scene Intelligent Auto, Program AE, Shutter Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, Manual exposure, C1 Program AE, C2 Program AE, C3 Program AE
  • A number of settings for different videography needs, HD to 4K
  • 4K 25 fps ALL-I , 4K 25 fps IPB, FHD 50fps ALL-I, FHD 50fps IPB, FHD 25fps ALL-I, FHD 25fps IPB, FHD 25fps IPB (Light), HD 50fps ALL-I, HD 50fps IPB, HD 25fps IPB
  • Movie Digital IS available
  • Eye AF is accurate when using FHD
  • 4K video crop at 1.6x

The Canon EOS R was involved in a few assignments/projects during the review period. My collaboration with Hpility SGgot me working on a few videography assignments/projects together:

    1. Vivo NEX Dual Display smartphone, the video was shot with the Canon EOS R.

Get in touch with the beauty of the Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition from Hpility SG on Vimeo.

    1. Carpmael Street Bazaar, an Antique Centre Atelier by The Retro Factory located at 75 Carpmael Road Singapore 429812. Hpility SG and myself also produced a short sneak preview video for them shot with the Canon EOS R.

Carpmael Street Bazaar Sneak Preview from Hpility SG on Vimeo.

  1. Singapore Maritime Trail 3 (pre preparation video work was shot with the Canon EOS R, the actual media launch event shoot was shot with Canon EOS RP)

Also, you have to check out this video here! Thanks to fellow Canon Singapore EOS World Community Ambassador Isaac Benjamin Ong who helped me in producing my Canon EOS RP Explorer video, shot with the Canon EOS R (with the help of three friends, Hpility, Vincent and Isaac filming three different segments).

Thoughts and views

First and foremost, the Canon EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera showed Canon’s commitment to the mirrorless camera market, a point that I noted during the time when I attended Canon EXPO 2016 Shanghai and I published this article “The Next Wave and Trends (from Canon EXPO 2016 Shanghai)”

The time has finally come, for For photographers (professionals or serious enthusiasts) planning to change from DSLR to mirrorless and requires at least a semi-pro level model. At this point in time, there is also an additional Canon full-frame mirrorless camera to choose from, the EOS RP.

The Canon EOS R mirrorless full-frame camera sits in between the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and Canon EOS 6D Mark II DSLR models, similar full-frame Canon camera comparisons.

Canon EOS R versus Canon EOS RP, which one should I choose?

A golden question, an answer that would only be known by you inside your heart, mind and brains. I would be writing more in-depth with detailed views, thoughts, comparisons with the Canon EOS RP full-frame mirrorless camera and finally why we chose the Canon EOS RP over the Canon EOS R.

I hope that my two review articles and my comparisons, thoughts, views and  analysis article of the two Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras would help you to make a decision on which Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras to choose from.

When the Canon EOS RP review and Canon EOS R vs Canon EOS RP articles are up, I would amend this final part of my article here with the article links. Do keep a lookout when they are published!

More photographs of the Canon EOS R review can be viewed inside this flickr photo album.

I would like to thank Canon Singapore for the opportunity to review the Canon EOS R full frame mirrorless camera.


Created with flickr slideshow.

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