Short hands on experience with Canon EOS R3

At the media session, not only did I get a short hands on experience to touch and feel the Canon EOS R3, I had an interactive session with the folks from Canon Singapore. I am going to share some of my personal thoughts and views that I compiled from my short hands on session as well as my own Q&A session with Canon Singapore.

During the media session, I noticed in the presentation that the EOS R3 is positioned below the EOS-1D X series and above the EOS R5 and EOS R6. Personally, I feel that the EOS R3 technical specifications and capabilities are comparable to the EOS-1D X series (and maybe even better!). Equipped with a newly developed back-illuminated stacked CMOS 24.1 megapixels sensor, this could be just right and enough for those into sports, action and press photography. 

The Canon EOS R3 is lighter in weight and slightly smaller in size as compared to EOS-1D X Mark III, it has a very familiar feel and touch if you are an existing EOS-1D X user.

It’s a technologically advanced mirrorless camera with deep learning technology applied to Eye Detection AF on the EOS R3. Eye Control Detection AF is a very useful technology and capability, photographers into sports, action, wedding and journalism would love this feature. 

Examples of Eye Detection AF in action: 

Sports photography: Penalty kick in a football match, using Eye Detection AF technology to focus on the penalty taker, switching seamlessly to the goalkeeper and vice versa. 

Wedding photography: Using Eye Detection AF to switch focus from the wedding couple to the guests nearby, allowing the photographer to capture priceless moments from their position.

The Canon EOS R3 has a maximum shutter speed at 1/64,000 (with electronic shutter) and continuous shooting at 30 fps. These two key features will definitely light up the eyes of sports, action and wildlife photographers. Can you visualise shooting wildlife, sports or action photography at 30 fps with a shutter speed of 1/64,000 using EOS R3 fast focusing AF capabilities? 

Vehicle priority AF is a newly added feature that will excite motorsports photographers, allowing them to detect automobiles and motorcycles with great precision. There is a feature that caught my attention when I read other photography websites especially those from United States of America that had early access to the Canon EOS R3 prior to the coordinated official launch. The Flexible Zone AF allows photographers to change the size of the AF area, this would come in useful for sports, action and wildlife photography. 

The EOS R3 can record up to 6K 60p RAW or 4K 120p 10-bit movie. Some might question why 6K and not 8K? For a start, the EOS R3 target markets are photographers in the sports, action, wildlife and press photography sectors, where still photography with fast and accurate AF are the key features that professional photographers wanted/required. Should the need to shoot video is needed, 4K standards can get the job done and deliver the goods without taking up too much resources on the desktop or laptop, while 6K is a bonus/sweet spot for slightly higher standards than 4K while not over pushing your desktop or laptop resources when editing 8K videos.

Expectations and potentially the super flagship EOS R1 full frame camera in the near future 

The positioning of Canon EOS R3 below the EOS-1D X series was a bit of a surprise to me personally. The technical specifications and capabilities of their latest full-frame mirrorless camera is on par with the EOS-1D X Mark III (even better in my personal humble opinion). I was curious to know more about Canon’s positioning of the Canon EOS R3. 

Based on my understanding as a Canon photographer myself (EOS 300D -> EOS 30D -> EOS-1D III -> EOS 70D -> EOS-1D X -> EOS-1D X Mark II & EOS RP) as well as covering Canon news over the years (probably a decade by now?), naming this technologically advanced and powerful as the EOS R3 is going to set some pretty high expectations for the upcoming super flagship (rumoured and widely speculated) EOS R1 full-frame mirrorless camera in the near future. 

The slogan for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras is “Born to Rule”. When Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 were announced in 2020, Canon showcased to the photography world, their commitment to full-frame mirrorless camera and lenses system, how far and how much they had invested and developed the full-frame mirrorless EOS R camera and RF lenses system. 

I had reviewed both Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6 full-frame mirrorless cameras, they were very impressive, very capable and packed with strong features, it was tempting for me to fully switch over to full-frame mirrorless. While I only had a short hands-on session with the Canon EOS R3, I am already very impressed and excited. Now, the call to fully switch over to full-frame mirrorless is getting even stronger. 

What does the EOS R3 bode for the future of Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras? This camera has now set a very high standard and expectations for future Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras. There are a number of speculations and rumours (as usual) going on around the photography sector. My personal speculation is a super flagship (rumoured and widely speculated) EOS R1 full-frame mirrorless camera. 

Canon DSLR users, especially sports photographers, this technologically advanced and powerful packed technical specifications EOS R3 sets the bar and standards for professional, sports, action, wildlife and press photography. 

Last but not least – to EOS R3 or not?

I have a soft spot for the Canon EOS-1D series, they took (and help define) my Canon photography to the next few levels when I started my EOS-1D series with EOS-1D Mark III in 2010. From EOS-1D Mark III to EOS-1D X, followed by EOS-1D X Mark II. While the EOS R3 is not named the EOS-1 series equivalent at this stage, the shape, feel, familiarity and capabilities of the EOS R3 are just like the EOS-1D X family.  

Even with a short hands on experience session with the EOS R3 and not having done a full review, I am already very impressed and excited with this amazing and technologically advanced full-frame mirrorless camera for sports, action, wildlife and press photography. 

For fellow Canon EOS-1D family (especially EOS-1D X Mark II and III) DSLR users, in my personal humble opinion as of now without having done a full review of the Canon EOS R3, you can now have the full confidence to migrate over from DSLR (EOS-1D X Mark III).

Last but not least – to EOS R3 or not? Is it time for me to fully move over from Canon DSLR (EOS-1D X Mark II) to Canon full-frame mirrorless (Canon EOS R3)? Born to Rule – Canon EOS R3.

I would like to thank Canon Singapore for the invitation to the media session to have a first look, touch, feel and understanding more in-depth about the Canon EOS R3. 

The post Short Hands on Experience with Canon EOS R3 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

“The EOS R3 is a testament to our ceaseless pursuit of pushing our technological boundaries to create cameras that offer fast performance, precision, and reliability,” said Mr. Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore. “As Canon’s finest mirrorless camera to date, the EOS R3 will strengthen our EOS R system lineup, complementing other mirrorless cameras such as the EOS R5 and EOS R6. Its addition will bolster our offerings to help cater to the different needs of each type of photographer.”

Back-illuminated Stacked CMOS Sensor with DIGIC X

The Canon EOS R3 has a newly developed 24.1-megapixels back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor, combined with DIGIC X image processor, powering the EOS R3 to a number of ground breaking features that makes it the finest full-frame mirrorless camera in the EOS R system line-up. This EOS R3 camera is built primarily for speed, it also strikes a perfect balance between precision, performance and image quality.

At approximately 24.1-megapixels, the EOS R3 has approximately 20% more pixels as compared to the EOS-1D X Mark III and EOS R6. However, its resolution performance exceeds even the much higher 30.4-megapixels EOS 5D Mark IV.

High Speed Performance

For photographers in the sports, action, wildlife and press sectors that require high speed performance on their cameras, the EOS R3 is the camera for you. The EOS R3 electronic shutter can reach up to 30 fps while its mechanical shutter can reach up to 12 fps with AF/AE tracking. It’s also possible to achieve a shutter speed of up to 1/64,000 sec with the electronic shutter, this would allow photographers to capture ultra-fast subjects or using large aperture lenses under bright environments.

The Canon EOS R3 is equipped with dual card slots for CFexpress (Type-B) card that boasts ultra-fast read/write speeds and a SD (UHS-II) card, allowing for fast and reliable recording of image data. Thanks to DIGIC X’s incredibly high-speed processing capability, it’s possible to navigate menus and change settings while data is being written on a memory card.

Superior Image and Video Quality

For still photography, the EOS R3 has a native ISO range of 100 to 102.400 (expandable to 204,800). For videography, the range goes from 100 to 25,600 (expandable to 102,400). Due to the increased readout speed by the stacked CMOS sensor, rolling shutter distortion has been reduced to a minimum, which is particularly useful when shooting fast action sports or rapid panning action.

10-bit HEIF file format is also available in the EOSR3. HDR-PQ-like JPEG images with improved highlight gradations can be converted from HEIF files in-camera. With the HDR mode, users can achieve a single high dynamic range HEIF file from 3 HEIF composites automatically in as quickly as 0.02 seconds, making handheld HDR shooting an absolute breeze.

Like the EOS R5 and R6, the EOS R3 comes with In-Body Image Stabilisation(In-Body IS) of up to 5.5 stops. When paired with compatible RF lenses, the effectiveness can go up to 8 stops ,making long exposure shooting without a tripod a cinch.

To meet movie production needs, the EOS R3 is capable of recording 6K 60p RAW or 4K 120p 10-bit movie at the full-frame angle of field. High quality 4K 60p(oversampling from 6K) is also available for those who demand the very best quality. Canon Log 3 and HDR PQ are available, providing flexibility to match various postproduction workflows.

Intelligent and Precise Focus

The EOS R3 is featuring the game-changing Eye Control AF function for the first time since the EOS 7s (released in 2004). This allows users to select a focus point by purely using the movement of the eye. Multiple LEDs and sensors inside the newly developed EVF detect eye movement quickly, allowing photographers to instantly shit between different subjects without the need to fiddle around with buttons and controls. This helps them to quickly shift between AF targets, particularly when photographing motorsports and fast-moving subjects.

Eye Detection AF on the EOS R3 has been enhanced further with deep-learning technology. The camera is now able to focus on the eye if the face is partially covered or masked. Head Detection AF has also improved further, even when the athletes are wearing helmets or goggles, stable focusing can still be achieved in high-speed sports photography.

A newly added Vehicle Priority AF will also excite motorsport photographers. The AF can now detect automobiles and motorcycles with great precision. It can even detect the helmets of drivers when Spot Detection is enabled.

Another benefit from the high readout speed of the new sensor, combined with the processing power of DIGIC X, is the enhanced tracking accuracy. The EOS R3 can perform up to 60fps of AF calculation and tracking. This is three times of what the EOS-1 DX Mark III and EOS R5 can achieve, making it a breeze to track subjects that turn and change directions rapidly, such as ski racers or motorsport athletes.

With its low-luminance AF limit of EV-7.5, the EOS R3 can focus on subjects in an environment so dark that it is almost pitch black to the human eyes.

Seamless Connectivity for Swift Transfer

The EOS R3 has some of the best connectivity features in any Canon camera. Featuring Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS as standard modes, a dual band Wi-Fi that supports FTP and FTPS are also available, along with WPA3 for added security. For press photographers, wired LAN connectivity offers blazing fast transfer of files to remote FTP, FTPS or SFTP servers. All these are achieved without the need of any additional accessories.

For high-speed transfer, Mobile File Transfer allows the camera to transfer files quickly to a smartphone via a USB cable. By utilizing the ultra-fast 5G mobile network, the files can be transferred to remote servers swiftly.

Durability and Operability

As a professional grade mirrorless camera, the EOS R3 shares the same dust and drip resistance performance and shutter durability as the EOS-1D X Mark III.

The camera is equipped with a 3.2-inch (3:2) Vari-angle LCD touchscreen, a first for a professional body. It also boasts a resolution of approximately 4.15-million-dots, the highest ever in any Canon camera.

Canon has also developed a new 5.76-million-dot OLED EVF for the EOS R3. With a refresh rate of up to 120fps, the highly responsive EVF not only make spanning comfortable on the eye, but it also reduces time lag during continuous shooting. Featuring the same SmartController which first debuted on the EOS-1D X Mark III, it allows the user to quickly move the AF position around and double up as an AF-ON button.

Compatible with the proven LP-E19 high-capacity battery pack, photographers can be assured of a full day of shooting on a single charge. When the need arises, the battery can be charged using a mobile battery that supports Power Delivery(PD)via a compatible USB-C cable.

Despite its imposing look, the EOS R3 is 15% shorter than the EOS-1D X Mark III and weighs 30% lighter (CIPA standard). At822g (body only), the EOS R3 is also lighter than the EOS 5DS.

New Multi-function Shoe and Accessories

The EOS R3’s next generation Multi-function shoe adds functionalities beyond flash photography, with a series of new accessories designed to work with it.

The Multi-Function Shoe Directional Stereo Microphone DM-E1D is a full digital microphone that inherits most of the features from its analogue sibling, DM-E1. Other than being able to record digital audio directly, it adopts a battery-less and cable-less design. The Multi-function shoe can transmit audio data as well as supply power from the camera.The Menu button on the microphone allows quick access to the settings inside the camera menu for convenience.

Speedlite Transmitter ST-E10 is a new radio-enabled speedlite transmitter that works similarly to the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT. It has the same battery-less design and quick menu access buttons as the DM-E1D. Most notably, the ST-E10’s ultra-compact design sports a 56% reduction in weight compared to the ST-E3-RT.

The Multi-Function Shoe Adapter AD-E1 is designed to allow existing speedlites that has dust and drip resistance design to be used on the EOS R3. Examples of such speedlites are the EL-1 and 600EX series. Speedlites without dust & drip resistance design such as the 430EX and 270EX series, however, can be mounted directly on the EOSR3.

Multi-Function Shoe Adapter for Smartphone Link AD-P1 is an accessory for mounting a smartphone on to the EOS R3’s Multi-function shoe. A dedicated USB cable allows fast transfer of images and videos from the camera to the smartphone. With the Mobile File Transfer smartphone app, photographers can send these hi-res images to a remote FTP server via 5G mobile network.This workflow will significantly enhance photographers’ efficiency in the field.

Pricing and Availability

The EOS R3 will be available in November 2021, with pricing to be advised at a later date.

Canon EOS R3 Product Specifications 

* Information and pictures courtesy of Canon Singapore and GLOO *

The post Canon announced EOS R3 – Redefining Speed and Performance appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

The Canon EOS R3 that is currently in development, is based on the concept of high speed, high sensitivity and high reliability. The EOS R3 will be introduced into Canon’s lineup of professional and enthusiast cameras that includes the EOS-1D X Mark III flagship DSLR camera (released in February 2020) and the EOS 5 series, including the EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless camera (released in July 2020). The EOS R3 aims to provide professional-level quality for both stills and video capture, even for moving subjects.

The EOS R3 is the first EOS series camera to be equipped with Canon’s newly developed 35mm full-frame backlit stacked CMOS sensor that makes possible high-speed readout. The camera also features a DIGIC X image processor for high-speed image processing that realises high-speed continuous shooting of up to 30 frames-per-second (1) (FPS) with AF/AE tracking when using the electronic shutter. In addition, the camera significantly reduces image warping, a common challenge with electronic shutters, and is also capable of capturing moving subjects with reduced noise in such low-light environments as indoor areas or nighttime scenes. 

Alongside Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology—by which each pixel on the image sensor possesses both image capture and phase-detect AF functionality, thus enabling high-speed, high-accuracy and wide-range AF—the EOS R3 uses an algorithm that employs deep learning technology that enables improved head and eye detection for human subjects as well as a new capability to detect subject torsos. Thanks to this enhanced performance, the camera’s autofocus system provides high-performance subject tracking, even during portrait photography and in scenarios with frequent subject movement such as sports. Development is also underway to enable detection of additional subject types. 

In addition, the EOS R3 is Canon’s first digital camera to feature Eye Control AF (2) functionality. When shooting still images and looking through the viewfinder, this new feature enables the AF frame to adjust according to detected movement of the user’s eye, making possible smoother shooting with quick focus when transitioning between subjects. 

The EOS R3 answers the sophisticated needs of professionals by providing dust and water resistance developed with each iteration of the EOS-1 series, body design with integrated vertical hand-grip, reliability and ease of use, as well as compatibility with Canon’s Mobile File Transfer (3), announced alongside the EOS R3, which supports high-speed workflows. 

Personal thoughts and views

As a current EOS-1D X Mark II user myself and a big fan of the Canon EOS 1D series cameras, the EOS R3 development news is very exciting for me! While I am eagerly awaiting the official announcement and technical specifications of the EOS R3. I am making a guess here that EOS R3 would be officially announced in Q3 2021, based on my experiences and coverage on the previous three Canon cameras, EOS-1D X Mark III and EOS R5 and R6 cameras.

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III announced its development in October 2019, it was then subsequently officially announced in January 2020.

As for Canon EOS R5, their development was announced in February 2020, in July 2020, Canon officially announced Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6.

Would the EOS R3 mark the start of my migration to a full Canon RF system setup? I do not have an answer at this point in time. The EOS R system and RF lenses have improved tremendously and expanded their lenses lineup from the time Canon announced  their first full-frame mirrorless camera EOS R, followed by the EOS RP to EOS R5 and EOS R6 of today. More RF lenses are coming, making the Canon EOS R and RF lenses eco-system an even more holistic and complete camera and lenses eco-system for both professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Since the EOS R3 is currently in development, the technical specifications are kept under wraps until it is officially announced. Just for the fun of it, I am making a guess on some of EOS R3 specifications:

EOS R3: 40MP, 8K video

With reference to selected Canon cameras, EOS-1D X Mark III: 20.1MP, 4K video | EOS R5: 45MP, 8K video | EOS R6: 20.1MP, 4K video | EOS 5D Mark IV: 30.1MP, 4K video

Stay tuned as we await the official announcement of the upcoming Canon EOS R3 full-frame mirrorless camera that is going to be a high speed, high sensitivity and high reliability camera.

Notes:

(1) Continuous shooting frame rate may decrease depending on the attached lens and/or shooting environment  

(2) This feature may not be useable depending on such factors as users’ wearing of sunglasses, hard contact lenses or glasses for vision correction, as well as individual characteristics including eye size, eyelid thickness and eyelash length  

(3) Compatible with iOS only. EOS R3-compatible version requires paid purchase. Both wired and wireless connections are supported, but wired connection requires compatible USB cable (purchased separately by user). 

* IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license.  

** Information and picture courtesy of Canon Singapore and GLOO PR **

The post Canon Announced Development of EOS R3 Full-frame Mirrorless Camera appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.