“As the pinnacle of our EOS line up, the EOS R1 inherits the top-tier excellence of our 1 lineage, which has always been highly trusted by professionals. The EOS R1 will empower professionals and craftsmen with class-leading control and performance, to acquire mastery of their craft, by providing an additional edge in their professional production processes and workflows.” said David Yeo, Senior Marketing Manager of Consumer Business, Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore.

My visual storytelling/photography journeys with Canon EOS 1 series

My visual storytelling/photography journeys with Canon EOS 1 series began with the Canon EOS-1D Mark III in 2010, the first Canon EOS 1 series camera that I owned. I tested and reviewed the Canon EOS-1D X, EOS-1D X Mark II. My next EOS 1 series camera was the Canon EOS-1D X, before moving on to the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II. When I moved into the EOS R full-frame mirrorless series, without a flagship EOS 1 series camera in my lineup. 

Canon EOS R1 – First flagship EOS R system camera 

The Canon EOS R1 was announced on 17th July 2024. I would be sharing the information from the press release as I didn’t get the opportunity to have a short hands on with the Canon EOS R1 as compared to my previous Canon EOS camera announcements. The Canon EOS R1 is kind of familiar to me, given my history with Canon EOS 1 series cameras and the Canon EOS R3 that I reviewed in 2022.

EOS R1 Top Notch Speed: Accelerated Capture Image Processing

The Canon EOS R1 harnesses the power of a 24-megapixel back-illuminated (BSI) stacked CMOS sensor to elevate images to an impressive 96-megapixels with its unique In-Camera Upscaling technology. The sensor’s improved light efficiency and faster readout lay the foundation for the revolutionary capabilities of the EOS R1.

With the new Accelerated Capture image processing system, featuring the innovative DIGIC Accelerator alongside DIGIC X, processing speed and power are significantly amplified. Unprecedented levels of AF and subject tracking performance can be achieved through deep learning algorithms, where detailed scene analysis is enabled. With features such as In-Camera Upscaling and Neural Network Noise Reduction now executable in-camera, the EOS R1 supports fast-paced, time-sensitive workflows, ensuring the swift delivery of high-quality, publication-ready images to editors or press offices.

Capture Decisive Moments: Smarter Subject Detection and Tracking

The EOS R1 is Canon’s first camera to feature the next-generation Dual Pixel Intelligent AF system. This system leverages the Accelerated Capture image processing system’s powerful processing speed and power to achieve AF and subject detection performance that significantly surpasses that of the EOS R3.

One revolutionary new AF feature is the Action Priority AF mode, which detects crucial actions such as shooting, passing, and heading, specific to soccer, basketball, or volleyball.  Using deep learning, details such as ball position, players’ joints, and the presence of multiple people will be analysed. Once such actions are detected, the AF frame automatically switches to the subjects performing these actions, capturing those split-second decisive moments that might be missed, especially during dynamic, fast-paced games.

Be it shooting event photos or videos, the Register People Priority feature will come in handy; the camera will prioritise up to 10 specific preregistered individuals and constantly focus on them, even when the subjects’ faces are side facing.

Users can also look forward to improved AF and subject tracking in the existing People, Animal, and Vehicle-priority modes, as the Dual Pixel Intelligent AF is aided by Cross-type AF, which improves the camera’s ability to detect small subjects and subjects affected by patterns and/or horizontal lines—such as players wearing horizontal stripes or when shooting from behind net or fence.

In-camera Upscaling: Instant High-resolution Extreme Crops

The new In-Camera Upscaling function uses deep learning algorithms to quadruple the number of pixels in an image while preserving details and image quality, achieving image files that resemble those shot on a 96-megapixel camera. This will be useful for achieving high-quality extreme crops on the spot, which can be sent directly from the camera to a press office.

Image noise can become more apparent when images are magnified, but this will be addressed by the new in-camera Neural Network Noise Reduction function to improve image quality further. The function uses deep learning-based algorithms to reduce high-fidelity noise on RAW images, achieving amazingly clean high ISO JPEG images straight out of the camera.

The EOS R1 features a 5-axis In-Body IS (Image Stabilizer), with a newly designed mechanism and improved algorithms that increase its effectiveness compared to the EOS R3. When shooting with a compatible RF lens with Optical Image Stabilizer, users can expect up to 8.5 stops’ equivalent image stabilisation so handheld shot images where tripods are not available will remain sharp.

Never Miss Crucial Moments

The EOS R1 can shoot high-speed bursts at up to 40 fps with the electronic shutter, which allows for silent shooting, and up to 12 fps with the mechanical and electronic first-curtain shutter. This enables users to capture the perfect moment within fast action sequences. The faster sensor readout speed reduces rolling shutter distortion to practically negligible levels. This is equivalent to the EOS-1D X Mark III mechanical shutter, which will encourage users who previously refrained from using the electronic shutter due to potential subject distortion when capturing high-speed action. Reduced rolling shutter distortion will also benefit video, allowing for seamless action footage and fast camera movement without wobbly artifacts.

The EOS R1 comes with pre-continuous shooting for stills and pre-recording for videos. These functions capture moments before pressing the shutter or starting to record, making up for lost split-seconds. The pre-recording function captures up to 20 frames before the shutter button is fully pressed and can be combined with Action Priority AF or Register People Priority. It also captures a scene up to 5 seconds before recording video and stops recording when there is a change of scene, reducing unnecessary footage and streamlining post-production work.

Seamless Operation on the Field

The EOS R1 is also designed for seamless control and operation, enabling better responsiveness to dynamic situations. Eye Control AF, which allows users to control the AF frame with their eyes has been improved with new line-of-sight optics and detection algorithm, allowing for a faster, more reliable line of sight detection. The 9.44 million-dot, 0.9x magnification blackout-free EVF, which offers the highest definition and magnification in the EOS series, ensures that users get a large, bright, clear, and uninterrupted view of their subject and should satisfy even the DSLR users. An anti-fog structure in the EVF prevents fogging even under hot and humid conditions. 

Several new design and interface features provide more shortcuts for instant recall of stored AF settings, allowing faster user response to changing shooting conditions. These include:

• Focus preset, a function previously available only on super telephoto lenses that enables any camera button to be assigned to set the focus to a predetermined focus position so users can set focus instantly on a desired area.
• 2-level AF-On button functionality, where the AF-On button can be assigned to change different settings when half-pressed and fully pressed.
• Ability to register and recall different AF settings for different activities and shooting situations preregistered by the user.

Two CFexpress Type-B slots support steady high-speed recording of data-intensive files, such as 6K 60p RAW videos and 40 fps full-resolution burst images, to either card, with the other card available for simultaneously recording still images and proxy video files.

With dual shooting function, users can simultaneously record Full HD 60p videos and 16:9 JPEG, approx. 17.8-megapixel still images, improving efficiency in situations such as breaking news, interview videos where both stills and videos are required.

The EOS R1 is built with a light but strong magnesium alloy exterior, making it 23% lighter and 11% smaller than the EOS-1D X Mark III. It maintains an impact-resistant build and has dust- and water-resistant weather-sealing, to withstand extreme weather conditions.

Designed for Swift Editorial Workflows

The EOS R1 is the first EOS system camera to support the new Wi-Fi 6/6E wireless protocol in addition to the existing 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz bands, allowing for faster wireless file transmission to a smartphone, PC, or FTP/FTPS/SFTP server. It also supports the new high-speed 2.5GBase-T wired LAN protocol to existing wired LAN support. Users can use the latest high-speed communication standards to swiftly transmit large numbers of still photos and videos to their editors—an asset for news reporting where time is of the essence.

Other features that will benefit professional media workflows include:

• More precise deep learning-based metering
  The combination of smaller metering zones and expanded deep learning applications enables improved white balance and autoexposure accuracy across various scenes. Thus, photographers can rely more on the camera to produce accurate skin tones and sky colours, as well as more vivid greens. This enables users to rely more on the camera to determine the best settings when handling unpredictable, fluctuating environments. It also results in more beautiful images straight out of the camera.
• Blurred/out of focus image detection
  This function analyses and scores blurred and out-of-focus JPEG/HEIF images with people’s faces shot using the electronic shutter. It streamlines reviewing and selects the best images from the tremendous number captured by the high-speed electronic shutter, allowing photographers to upload their images sooner.
• Powerful industry-standard video options
  Besides its 6K 60p internal RAW video capability, the EOS R1 adopts many advanced video features shared with the Cinema EOS, such as Canon Log 2 and 3, false colours, and proxy recording. It is also the first EOS series camera to include the Custom Picture colour presets and support for in-camera LUT applications, previously exclusive to Cinema EOS cameras.
• Greater usability with Speedlites
  The EOS R1’s faster sensor readout speed enables flash photography support even during continuous shooting in the electronic shutter mode. The flash sync speed is the EOS R series’ highest at 1/400 sec, allowing more flexibility to use a wide aperture or freeze action without resorting to high-speed sync.

Pricing and Availability

The Canon EOS R1 will be available at the recommended retail price of $9,599 at Canon authorised dealers in November 2024.

Technical Specifications – Canon EOS R1

* Information and pictures courtesy of Canon Singapore and Litmus PR *  

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Canon EOS R1

The Canon EOS R1 is geared towards professionals, bringing together Canon’s cutting-edge technology and combines top-class performance with the strong durability and high reliability sought in a flagship model. This camera will dramatically improve (1) the performance of both still images and video, meeting the high requirements of professionals on the frontlines of a wide range of photography fields/genres including sports, news reporting, and video production.

This camera employs the newly developed image processor DIGIC Accelerator in addition to the pre-existing processor DIGIC X. The new image processing system,  composed of these processors and a new CMOS sensor, enables large volume of data to be processed at high speeds and delivers never-before-seen advancements in Auto Focus (AF) and other functions.

Canon EOS R1 New Image Processing and Deep Learning Technology

By combining the new image processing system and deep learning technology to an advanced degree, Canon has achieved high-speed and high-accuracy subject recognition. For example, subject tracking accuracy has been improved so that in team sporting events where multiple subjects intersect, the target subject can continually be tracked even if another player passes directly in front of them. In addition, the AF “Action Priority” function recognises subject movement by rapidly analysing the subject’s status. In moments during a sports game when it is difficult to predict what will happen next, this function automatically determines the player performing a certain action, such as shooting a ball, as the main subject and instantly shifts the AF frame, thereby helping to capture decisive moments of gameplay.

The combination of the new image processing system and deep learning technology will help to improve image quality. Canon implements the image noise reduction function, which has been previously developed and improved as part of the software for PCs, as a camera function to further improve image quality and contribute to user creativity.

Canon is working on field tests for this camera, and will support capturing definitive and impactful moments at international sporting events to be held in the future.

Going forward, Canon will continue to expand the EOS R SYSTEM lineup of fascinating cameras and RF lenses, thereby continuing to meet the demands of a wide range of users and contribute to the development of photography and video culture.

Notes:

(1) In comparison to EOS R3 (released in November 2021)

* Information and picture courtesy of Canon Singapore and Gloo *

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